World NET Cancer - Neuroendocrine Tumour Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Neuroendocrine Tumors

1. When is World NET Cancer Day and Why is it Celebrated?

On November 10, the world honours World NET Cancer Day, also known as NET Cancer Day and Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day. It was founded to raise awareness about neuroendocrine tumours and to give the NET community a voice. The International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance coordinates World NET Cancer Day (INCA).

2. Mascot of NET (Neuroendocrine Tumours) Cancer

ZEBRA is the Mascot for the NET Cancer. The Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network (CCAN), now known as the Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network, created the ZEBRA logo, or mascot, in 2003. (NCAN). Perhaps this is why we're known as "The Original ZEBRA." The zebra has the most distinctive coat of any animal, according to The National Geographic Society. And each zebra has its own striped pattern, as distinct as human fingerprints. In fact, no two are the same. The same as NET patients. There are no two NET Cancer patients who are alike.

3. What is NET (Neuroendocrine Tumours) Cancer?

The term NET cancer stands for Neuroendocrine tumour. The term "NET" or "NETs" refers to a group of unusual, often slow-growing cancers that develop from neuroendocrine cells found throughout the body. For many years, this type of cancer was classified as a carcinoid disease. In medical literature, this term is gradually being replaced by NETs.

In comparison to other types of tumours, most neuroendocrine tumours grow slowly, over years rather than months. Doctors can commonly remove or shrink them using various treatments. Other therapies may alleviate your symptoms. There are various kinds of NETs. They are usually named after the type of cell that produces them or the hormone that they produce.

Neuroendocrine tumours are cancers that start in neuroendocrine cells, which are specialised cells. Neuroendocrine cells are similar to nerve cells and hormone-producing cells in their characteristics. The digestive system, lung, and pancreas are the most common sites for NETs to develop.

However, they can occur in a variety of other parts of the body. The primary site is the location where a NET first appears. The NET, on the other hand, has the potential to spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, or bones. If this occurs, the NET may be referred to as a secondary tumour or metastasis by your doctor.

4. What are the Types of NET (Neuroendocrine Tumours) Cancer

Here is the list of the various types of NET Cancer -
  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
  • Paraganglioma
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Adrenal cancer
  • Carcinoid tumours
  • Merkel cell carcinoma
5. What Causes NET (Neuroendocrine Tumours) Cancer and Its Risk Factors?

It is unknown what causes neuroendocrine tumours. These cancers start in neuroendocrine cells, which resemble nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. Neuroendocrine cells can be found all over the body.

Neuroendocrine tumours develop when neuroendocrine cells' DNA is mutated. The instructions that tell a cell what to do are contained within its DNA. The mutations instruct neuroendocrine cells to proliferate and form a tumour. People who inherit cancer-risking genetic syndromes are more likely to develop neuroendocrine tumours.

6. What are the Symptoms of NET (Neuroendocrine Tumours) Cancer?
 

World NET Cancer Day

Neuroendocrine tumours do not always produce symptoms at first. The symptoms you may experience are determined by the location of your tumour and whether or not it produces excess hormones. Signs and symptoms of a neuroendocrine tumour may include:
  • A growing tumour’s pain
  • You can feel a growing lump under your skin
  • Person feels abnormally exhausted
  • Loss of weight without effort

Neuroendocrine tumours that produce too many hormones (functional tumours) may result in:
  • Flushing of the skin
  • Diarrhoea
  • Urinating frequently
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased thirst
  • Dizziness
  • Shakiness
  • Rash on the skin
7. Diagnosis of NET (Neuroendocrine Tumour) Cancer

The tests and procedures you might undergo to diagnose a neuroendocrine tumour will depend on where your tumour is located in your body. In general, tests might include:

Physical Examination: The doctor may perform a physical examination on the patient in order to better understand the signs and symptoms. He or she may feel for swollen lymph nodes or signs that a tumour is secreting too many hormones.

Excess Hormone Testing: The physician might suggest testing the patient's blood or urine for signs of excess hormones, which neuroendocrine tumours can produce.

Imaging Tests: The patient may be subjected to imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI to create images of his/her tumour. Images of neuroendocrine tumours can sometimes be generated using positron emission tomography (PET) with a radioactive tracer injected into a vein.

Surgeries for obtaining a cell sample for testing/ Biopsy: Depending on the patient situation, the doctor may insert a long, thin tube with a light and camera on the end into his/her lungs (bronchoscopy), oesophagus (endoscopy), or rectum (colonoscopy) to collect the cells. Surgery is sometimes required to collect a tissue sample.

If someone neuroendocrine tumour has spread to other parts of their body, they may be subjected to additional tests to determine the extent of the cancer.

8. Treatment of NET (Neuroendocrine Tumour) Cancer

The type of neuroendocrine tumour, its location, and whether the patient is starting to experience symptoms or signs of excess hormones produced by the tumour will all influence the treatment options. Neuroendocrine tumour treatment options include -

Surgery: The tumour is removed via surgery. Surgeons work to remove the entire tumour as well as some of the healthy tissue that surrounds it whenever possible. If the tumour cannot be completely removed, removing as much of it as possible may be beneficial.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy kills tumour cells by using powerful drugs. It can be injected into a vein in the patients arm or taken as a pill. If the patient neuroendocrine tumour recurs after surgery, chemotherapy may be recommended. It may also be used to treat advanced tumours that cannot be removed surgically.

Drug therapy: Targeted drug treatments target specific abnormalities found in tumour cells. Targeted drug treatments can kill tumour cells by blocking these abnormalities. For advanced neuroendocrine tumours, targeted drug therapy is typically combined with chemotherapy.

Peptide receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT): PRRT combines a cancer-fighting drug with a trace amount of radioactivity. It enables direct radiation delivery to cancer cells.

Medications to Regulate Excess Hormones: If your neuroendocrine tumour produces too many hormones, your doctor may advise you to take medications to alleviate your symptoms.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy kills tumour cells by utilising high-energy beams such as X-rays and protons. Radiation therapy may help some neuroendocrine tumours. If surgery is not an option, it may be advised.

Other treatments may be present to you based on your specific circumstances and the type of neuroendocrine tumour you have.


World NET Cancer   Neuroendocrine Tumour Symptoms   Neuroendocrine Tumour Causes   Neuroendocrine Tumour Treatment   NET Cancer   Types of NET cancer   NET Cancer and Its Risk Factors   Diagnosis of NET cancer  


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