‘Useless’ organ that doctors often remove could actually help you live longer and even fight cancer

Unlocking the Truth about the Thymus

BEHIND your chest wall sits a small fatty gland called the thymus.

The blob-like organ was thought to be useless in adults – until a study suggested quite the opposite.

Key Findings from the Study

Scientists from the US found that those who get their thymus removed face an increased risk of cancer and death from any cause later in life.

"We discovered that the thymus is absolutely required for health," Harvard University oncologist David Scadden said when the research was published last year.

"If it isn’t there, people’s risk of dying and risk of cancer is at least double," he added.

Implications and Recommendations

The study is purely observational, so it can’t prove that removing the thymus directly causes cancer or other deadly illnesses.

Yet, with what they now know, the scientists are now arguing that preserving the thymus "should be a clinical priority" where possible.

Understanding the Thymus Function

In childhood, the thymus plays a key role in developing the immune system.

When the gland is removed early, it leads to a reduction in T-cells, a type of white blood cell that fights germs and diseases.

Insights from the Study

For the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers compared the outcomes of almost 2,000 patients who had heart surgery – some of which had their thymus removed.

Those who underwent a thymectomy were almost twice as likely as controls to die within five years.

Patients who had their thymus removed were also twice as likely to develop cancer within five years of surgery.

Unveiling the Future of Thymus Research

"This indicates that the consequences of thymus removal should be carefully considered when contemplating thymectomy," David said.

The reason for these associations is unclear, but researchers believe a lack of thymus may be stopping the immune system from working properly.