| Neuroendocrine Cancer |
| WRITTEN BY KRISTI RUNYON |
| THURSDAY, 17 JUNE 2010 10:55 |
 Neuroendocrine cancer has a wide range of symptoms, and is commonly mistaken for irritable bowel disease, asthma and even menopause. With aggressive surgery, patients can live for decades, but without it, they'll lose their battle in a few years. Neuroendocrine Cancer A neuroendocrine tumor is a type of cancer that originates in the hormone-producing cells of the neuroendocrine system. It’s a rare kind of cancer. Eugene Woltering M.D., Surgical Oncologist with LSU Health Sciences Center's Neuroendocrine Tumor Program in Kenner, LA, estimates about only one in 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with some type of neuroendocrine tumor. The cancer can occur in many different areas of the body. Researchers say, in the U.S., the most common site of neuroendocrine tumors is the lungs. The gastrointestinal tract is the second most common site of these tumors. Rarely, a neuroendocrine tumor is located in the breast or prostate gland. Neuroendocrine tumors are classified as functioning or nonfunctioning. Functioning tumors produce extra hormones. The type of hormone produced depends on the location of the tumor. For example, neuroendocrine tumors in the digestive tract may produce excess gastrin, the hormone that regulates secretion of gastric acid for digestion, causing diarrhea and other digestive symptoms. Some patients may develop a group of symptoms, called carcinoid syndrome, which includes frequent diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin flushing, breathing problems and a rapid heartbeat. Nonfunctioning tumors don’t produce excess hormones, but continue to grow and can eventually crowd surrounding tissue or cause blockages. Diagnosing and Treating Neuroendocrine Tumors One test that may be helpful is a blood test called chromogranin A. Another is a urine test, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). However, these tests do not confirm the diagnosis, nor do they tell the location of the tumor. If one or both tests suggest the presence of a neuroendocrine tumor, doctors need to perform imaging scans to look for it. Once the location is confirmed, Woltering says the most important treatment for a neuroendocrine tumor is surgery. The goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. There is no cure. But since the tumors grow so slowly, surgery can be repeated again and again to keep the size of the tumor down. Sometimes patients will have chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in addition to surgery. With aggressive monitoring and treatment, many patients with neuroendocrine tumors survive for a long time. Woltering says it’s important for patients with neuroendocrine cancer to see a physician who has experience treating the cancer. However, because the cancer is so uncommon, most physicians may see only a few cases in their entire career. LSU has partnered with Ochsner Hospital to create the Neuroendocrine Tumor Program, a clinic specifically for patients with neuroendocrine cancer. The clinic has experts from many fields, such as gastroenterology, medical oncology, nuclear medicine, cancer surgery and liver transplantation. The team of physicians meets weekly to discuss patient cases and coordinate the best personal treatment plans.
For general information on neuroendocrine cancer: |
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