Q: Thymomas are rated on a scale from stage I to stage IV, with stage I being a thymoma that is caught early on. The treatment your doctor will first recommend will be based on the stage of the thymoma. Stage I is generally dealt with using corticosteroids and surgical intervention. Stage II is generally dealt with through surgical resection and occasionally radiation therapy. Stage III is generally dealt with through chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. Stage IV is generally dealt with through chemotherapy or chemoradiation. Corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and prednisone may be able to treat early stage thymoma. These drugs control inflammation and can be taken either orally or intravenously. Your doctor may prescribe between 20 to 800 milligrams (mg) taken every one or two days. Intravenous corticosteroids are generally prescribed at 5 to 500 mg, depending on the severity of the thymoma. Hormone therapy is a treatment that involves the removal of hormones or blocks their involvement in the growth of the thymoma. This therapy may also be able to stop the growth of cancerous cells. This therapy is generally used in conjunction with corticosteroid medications for thymomas that are caught early on. There are two reasons that surgery may be performed when you have a thymoma. The first is to test the thymoma and see what stage it is in, and whether it is malignant or benign. The other reason is that in some cases, the thymoma can be removed through surgical excision. One type of surgical resection that is used to combat thymoma is sternotomy. This procedure involves splitting the breastbone so that the surgeon can access the anterior chest cavity and remove the thymoma, as well as the entirety of the thymus if need be. A non-metastasizing thymoma means that the thymoma is not spreading to other parts of your body. This procedure involves removing the thymus gland so that the thymoma cannot do further damage to your body. The thymus gland helps your immune system to form when you are born. When it is removed later on, the removal will have very little effect on your immune system.
A: Understand that the type of treatment will depend on the stage the thymoma is in. Take corticosteroids. Try hormone therapy. Consider the benefits of surgery. Talk to your doctor about sternotomy. Get a thymectomy done if you have a non-metastasizing thymoma.

Q: It is a relationship myth that a solid relationship does not require work. Be prepared to put the work in. You can accomplish this by addressing any problems with your partner before they rear to their ugly heads. For example, you notice your partner withdrawing more money out of a shared account than usual. Instead of building a case over time, you might address the issue right off by saying "I noticed you have been needing more money lately. Do we need to adjust our budget to account for this?" You will never be perfect nor can you expect this from a partner. There will always be issues that come up and you can either learn to treat them as you would any other obstacle or you can hide them until they balloon into a huge problem. Make a commitment to hold a weekly check-in in which either of you can bring up any issues you have on your chest. Communicating problems with the idea of tackling them as soon as they come up helps you establish a strong foundation. Pick your battles wisely. Not every issue needs to turn into a battle. There will be some that need to be talked out, others that go unsaid and finally some that just end up not being important compared to what you gain from the relationship. Compromising may include writing out a pros and cons list to points of disagreement and talking through the list objectively. Talking aloud may clearly point out which choice is mutually beneficial. It also means finding a way that both of you can have your needs met without jeopardizing the needs of the other. Another way you can compromise is doing things one person's way one time and then favoring the other person's opinion the next time. For example, you may watch one person's favorite movie one night and the other person's top pick the next night. Before you find yourself waging war against your partner about a small issue, assess how important the matter truly is to the happiness and growth of your relationship. If it's truly not a big deal, move on. Relationships are about the "we" and not the "I" or "you". Focus on honest communication to work through problems together with room for each of you to give and take. Learn from one another instead of working against one another. For example, if you need a sum of money to pay for a big purchase, you can sit down and find ways for both of you to contribute. Each of you can put money into savings for a span of time, or cut back on non-essential expenses. Using terms like "we" as in "We will get through this" or "us" as in "Let us figure out a solution together" help foster a teamwork approach. Every relationship comes with ups and downs. When you encounter an issue, go through it logically and objectively and make a decision based on a the mutual well-being of both partners. Be sure to clearly define what you need from a partner and what you intend to give to your partner. Follow through on your obligations to your partner and speak up when he or she isn't doing the same in a constructive manner. It is a myth that you do not need to tell your partner what you value and need. You are mistaken to think that simply because your partner loves you, he or she should know what you need. Mind reading is impossible and the expectation of it merely hinders your growth. Communicate your desires simply by saying something to the effect of "Charity is really important to me. What can we do to honor that moving forward?" This is one area that can be very dangerous if you ignore it until it becomes a bigger issue. Make sure you share financial values early on in the relationship. If you want to save for the future while your partner lives for the moment, this may not end up lasting long term. Sit down and discuss where each of you stand financially. Create a budget if you live under the same roof. Talk to a financial counselor if you have trouble seeing eye-to-eye.
A:
Discuss issues upfront instead of letting them grow in size. Be willing to compromise. Work through problems as a team. Make your values and needs known to your partner. Get on the same page about finances.