Wear your stripes for NET Awareness Day
Posted almost 8 years ago by Gwen Spector
November 10th is NET Awareness Day.
About Neuroendocrine tumors and Carcinoids:
A neuroendocrine tumor begins in the hormone-producing cells of the body’s neuroendocrine system, which is made up of cells that are a combination of hormone-producing endocrine cells and nerve cells. Neuroendocrine cells are found throughout the body in organs such as the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach and intestines. Neuroendocrine cells perform specific functions, such as regulating air and blood flow through the lungs and controlling how quickly food moves through the gastrointestinal tract.
A carcinoid tumor is a specific type of neuroendocrine tumor. Carcinoid tumors most often develop in the GI tract, in organs such as the stomach or intestines, or in the lungs. However, a carcinoid tumor can also develop in the pancreas, a man’s testicles, or a woman’s ovaries.
from www.cancer.net
7 Facts about Carcinoid/neuroendocrine tumors from Carcinoid.org
- Between 60% and 80% of all carcinoid/neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients are incorrectly diagnosed and treated for the wrong disease
- From initial onset of symptoms the average time to proper diagnosis often exceeds five years
- More than 12,000 new cases of carcinoid/NETs are diagnosed each year
- Physicians still believe that carcinoid tumors are benign, slow growing and do not metastasize
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease are the two most common misdiagnosed conditions for patients with midgut carcinoid
- Abdominal pain, flushing, diarrhea, wheezing, bloating, heart palpitation, weakness, skin rash, heartburn and weight changes are the most prevalent carcinoid/NET symptoms
- At least 115,000 people are living with carcinoid/NETs in the United States