World Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Day 10th November

World Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Day is observed every year on 10th November to raise awareness of Neuroendocrine Cancer and voice the need for better diagnostics, information, and medical research in the field.

What is Neuroendocrine Cancer?

Neuroendocrine Cancer, or Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) as it is commonly known, is a cancer that attacks the body's neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system is spread throughout the body and controls many bodily functions. The neuroendocrine system receives messages from the brain and makes hormones accordingly, which controls several bodily functions. These cells have traits of both hormone-producing endocrine cells and nerve cells.

All neuroendocrine cancers/tumours are considered malignant and take several years to develop and show symptoms. However, there are also cases of fast-growing neuroendocrine cancers.

Neuroendocrine cancers can begin in any part of the body including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or pancreas. Neuroendocrine cancers are most commonly seen in the GI tract, with 19% of total Neuroendocrine cases seen in the small intestine, 20% in the large intestine, and 4 % in the appendix. Neuroendocrine cancer in the lungs accounts for 30% of the total cases while that in the pancreas accounts for 7% of the total cases. Neuroendocrine cancers are also seen in other organs, and in about 15% of the cases, a definite primary site cannot be found.

Neuroendocrine Cancer Symptoms

Neuroendocrine cancers usually show very minimal symptoms and hence are very hard to diagnose. Since Neuroendocrine cancers commonly grow at a very gradual pace, it takes several years to develop, and hence the symptoms are not sudden, making it harder to notice. When the symptoms are visible, they resemble those of common conditions, thereby leading to inaccurate diagnosis. The symptoms will also depend upon the size and location of the tumour.

The common neuroendocrine cancer symptoms are:

• Pain in any area
• Growing lump under the skin
• Excessive fatigue
• Abnormal loss of weight

Since neuroendocrine cancers affect the production of hormones, some symptoms are caused due to excessive hormones. These symptoms are:

• Skin flushing
• Diarrhea
• Excessive thirst
• Urge of urination
• Dizziness
• Skin rashes

Neuroendocrine Cancer Causes

While research is ongoing, the exact cause of Neuroendocrine cancer is still to be found. However several genetic risk factors are linked to neuroendocrine cancers. These are:

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1 and 2
• Von Hippel-Lindau disease
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Neurofibromatosis

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Neuroendocrine Cancer Diagnosis

Since neuroendocrine cancers show minimal to no symptoms and generally take several years to develop, most neuroendocrine patients are diagnosed when they conduct an X-ray or other medical procedures unrelated to the cancer. Apart from a physical examination, a doctor may advise several Diagnostic Tests:

• Biopsy
• Blood/Urine tests
• Endoscopy
• Ultrasound/CTscan/ X-ray/MRIscan
• PET scan
• Nuclear medicine imaging
• Laparoscopy

Neuroendocrine Cancer Treatment

The treatment options for Neuroendocrine cancer depend upon several factors such as the type of tumour, its location and size, and whether the patient is experiencing symptoms due to excessive hormones produced.

The general neuroendocrineCancer Treatmentoptions are:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted drug therapy
• Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy
• Radiation therapy
• Medicines for excess hormones

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Need for Awareness

The main objective of observing November 10 as Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Day is to raise awareness of this type of cancer since these cancers are frequently misdiagnosed. A report by Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network shows that in more than 90% of cases, neuroendocrine cancer patients are wrongly diagnosed and treated. They also state that the average time from the initial onset of symptoms to proper diagnosis exceeds five years. These numbers can go down only with the public getting familiarised with the symptoms and signs of neuroendocrine cancer. Raising awareness will also ensure increased medical research funding, which can help find the cause, create a diagnostic test, and even a possible cure for this cancer type.

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