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mrgoodman8806 Asked February 2014

Husband diagnosed with neuro endocrine tumors (very rare). Anyone with same diagnosis?

No effective treatment avail. No improv 3 tries. My husband was diagnosed with neuro endocrine tumors @ 2yrs ago. He used 2 combined meds (capsules and chemo shots) and later some other capsules w/o result. No ongoing or planned trials are avail. in the US. The tumors have already covered the pancreas (issues w/ digestion and diabetes already addressed) and portions of the liver (jaundice issues also addressed). They seemed to be everywhere in his internal organs but they do grow slowly. We have been told that life expectancy is 6 mos. to a year. Happy we are beyond that! Read somewhere that he might live 5 years; and one of the doctors told us 8 to 10. We cannot find much information anywhere. Specifically, I will like to know what to expect as the cancer advances. I have been invited to support groups but have not encountered or even heard of any similar cases. Thanks.

ladysportstr Feb 2014
I am the caregiver for my elderly Mom and have been diagnosed myself with NETS...I use Oschner clinic in New Orleans for my care, and also am an a "carcinoid" blog site online. Hope this info helps!

ferris1 Feb 2014
Having a husband with a rare pancreatic cancer (mucinous sarcoma) his very difficult-to-diagnose tumor was found by Mayo Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. They are also the only ones who have experience with this type of cancer. The problem with these NETs as they are called (neuroendocrine tumors) is they are slow growing, present with vague physical symptoms and will metastasize into vital organs before they are correctly diagnosed. With your husband's liver and pancreas involved, one needs both organs, however, the liver is the most important organ of the two. My husband's tail of the pancreas and spleen were dissected, and he does not have diabetes (if you remove the head portion of the pancreas, one gets diabetes). I would contact Mayo because they usually handle the most rare cancers, but I am not going to sugar-coat this diagnosis. It does not look good. But, keep hoping for a miracle and love your husband for whatever time he has left. My best wishes for you both and my prayers will be with you both! Incidentally, had I not been a nurse, I would have believed another hospital's diagnosis of "there's not much wrong with him". Get the best biochemical tests, imaging and pathology reports and see a specialist in these rare NETs. Start with an endocrinologist.

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pamstegma Feb 2014
I have found that statistics mean nothing, because the treatment of cancer is advancing exponentially. So are life expectancies. You will find good information via the major cancer centers like Mayo Clinic, Sloan-Kettering, Duke U, Pittsburgh UPMC and MD Anderson. I live near Buffalo NY so we have Roswell Park. These doctors talk to one another, they share breakthroughs. They have support groups. Search "neuroendocrine cancer" and check clinicaltrials.gov often, because trials come and go.

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