'Useless' Organ That Doctors Often Remove May Actually Fight Cancer

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There's a small fatty gland that sits behind your sternum and is often said to be 'useless' in adulthood.

But researchers are concerned by their findings. Until we know more, they"The magnitude of risk was something we would have never expected," oncologist David ScaddenIn childhood, the thymus is known to play a critical role in developing the immune system. When the gland is removed at a young age, patientstend to haveBy the time a person hits puberty, however, the thymus shrivels up and produces far fewer T-cells for the body.

Patients who had their thymus removed were also twice as likely to develop cancer within 5 years of surgery. Why these associations exist is unknown, but researchers suspect a lack of thymus is somehow messing with the healthy function of the adult immune system.

 

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