Thymoma Stage IV

with
Adrenal Metastasis
CANCER
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 DEFINITION
NURSING
2 MANAGEMENT
MEDICAL
3 MANAGEMENT

4 DRUGS/CHEMO DRUGS
5 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
 DEFINITION
Thymoma are forms of cancer that start in a gland called
thymus.
Thymoma forms slowly and rarely spreads beyond your
thymus.
Thymoma Stage IV – is divided into IVA and IVB

• Stage IVA: The thymoma spread widely throughout the pleura (lining of
the lungs and chest wall) and/or pericardium.

• Stage IVB: The thymoma has spread to distant organs. The most
common sites of spread are bone, the liver and the lungs.

Thymoma cancer staged using the TNM system. TNM stands for
tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis.
 What is Adrenal Metastasis
Adrenal metastasis are the most common malignant lesions involving the adrenal
glands and the second most common tumor of the adrenal gland after benign
adenomas.
 MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
The most effective treatment of adrenal metastases is first to treat the primary cancer,
usually with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Surgical resection is considered in
patients with isolated adrenal metastatic disease or with other resectable or potentially
curable metastasis.

TREATMENTS INCLUDE:

 CHEMOTHERAPY

 RADIATION THERAPY

 SURGERY
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

People with thymoma may experience the following

symptoms or signs.

• A symptom is something that only the person

experiencing it can identify and describe, such as fatigue,
nausea, or pain.
• A sign is something that other people can identify and
measure, such as a fever, rash, or an elevated pulse.
Together, signs and symptoms can help describe a
medical problem.
 NURSING MANAGEMENT
Assess patient and check vital signs

Gain intravenous access and start the normal saline infusion

Monitor lab values: CBC, lactate, basic metabolic panel & arterial blood
gases
Draw blood cultures to investigate possible infection

Monitor changes and report changes to provider

Monitor intake and output

Assess and maintain adequate hydration

Administer medications as advised by the doctor

Assess and monitor skin pigmentation

 NURSING MANAGEMENT
IN
CHEMOTHERAPY
Review chemotherapy drugs prescription. Name of anti-neoplastic agent, dosage,
route of administration, date and time for each agent to be administered.

Accurately identify the client.

Medications to be administered in conjunction with the chemotherapy (antiemetics,

sedatives etc.)

Assess the clients condition. Most recent report of blood counts including hemoglobin,
hematocrit, WBC and platelets.
Prepare for potential complications. Review the procedure and have medication available
for possible anaphylaxis.

Assure accurate preparation of the agent.

- Accuracy of dosage calculation
- Expiry date of the drug to be checked
- Procedure for correct reconstitution
- Recommended procedures for administration
Assess patients understanding of the chemotherapeutic agents and administration
procedures.
 DRUGS OR CHEMO DURGS

Common drugs combinations for

Common drugs for thymoma thymoma
● Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
● Cisplatin (Platinol) ● Carboplatin and paclitaxel
● Cyclophosphamide (Neosar) ● Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and
● Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) cisplatin
● Etoposide (Toposar, VePesid) ● Etoposide and cisplatin
● Ifosfamide (Ifex)
● Octreotide (Sandostatin)
● Paclitaxel (Taxol)
● Pemetrexed (Alimta)
 The side effects of chemotherapy
depends on the individual, the type of drug,
and the dose used, but they can include
fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting,
hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These
side effects usually go away once treatment is
finished.
THANK YOU!