Introduction
Cancers known as neuroendocrine cancer start in specialized cells known as neuroendocrine cells. These are rare epithelial cells linked with the nervous system. They possess an endocrine function and also express markers and peptides.
Neuroendocrine cancer can develop anywhere in the body. Understanding neuroendocrine cancer symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options is essential for improving prognosis and outcomes for patients.
What is Neuroendocrine Cancer?
Let’s head onto the frequency of the disease. The 2022 statistics reveal that around 1 in 55 risk factors lie with a person being diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer by the age of 85. This figure shows a deeper concern about developing this cancer in the elderly.
Neuroendocrine cancer (NEC) develops in the neuroendocrine cells, which are specialized cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system. There are various types of neuroendocrine cancers, including gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NETs), neuroendocrine lung cancer, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). These cancers may be slow-growing or aggressive, and their classification depends on the tumor’s grade and stage.
Neuroendocrine lung cancer is one of the more common types of NEC, accounting for around 25% of all neuroendocrine tumors. While it is less prevalent than other forms of lung cancer, its symptoms and treatment options are distinct.
Stages of Neuroendocrine Cancer
Knowing the stages of neuroendocrine cancer is essential for the effective detection and timely diagnosis and control of the disease.
- Stage 1: Localized tumor, confined to one area.
- Stage 2: The tumor begins to grow but remains in the organ of origin.
- Stage 3: Cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage 4: Metastasis to distant organs or tissues, indicating an advanced stage.
Knowing the stages of neuroendocrine cancer is vital to developing an effective treatment plan.
Neuroendocrine Cancer Symptoms
Early signs and symptoms are not usually present in neuroendocrine cancer. The location of your tumor and whether it produces extra hormones will determine the symptoms you may have.
Generally speaking, symptoms and indicators of neuroendocrine tumors may include:
- Pain due to a developing tumor
- A developing bulge beneath the skin that you may feel
- Feeling of exhaustion
- Losing weight without any proper reason
Functional tumors, or neuroendocrine tumors that overproduce hormones, may result in:
- Flush skin
- The diarrhea
- Recurring urination
- Increased thirst
- Lightheadedness
- Shakiness
- Rash on the skin
What Causes Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer?
What causes neuroendocrine lung cancer is still an area of ongoing research. However, certain risk factors have been identified. Some of the most significant causes include genetic predispositions and specific hereditary syndromes, such as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and Von Hippel-Lindau disease. These syndromes increase the likelihood of tumors developing in neuroendocrine cells.
Other factors that can contribute to the development of neuroendocrine cancer include:
- Family history of neuroendocrine cancer or related conditions
- Age (typically diagnosed in individuals between 50 and 60)
- Gender (slightly more common in men than women)
- Smoking, particularly in the case of neuroendocrine lung cancer
While these factors can increase the risk, it’s important to note that anyone can develop neuroendocrine cancer, even without obvious risk factors. Therefore, proper and timely detection of neuroendocrine cancer symptoms is necessary for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Neuroendocrine Cancer-Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is the first step to managing neuroendocrine cancer effectively. The diagnosis process often begins with a review of the patient’s medical history and a physical examination.
The doctor may prescribe blood tests or hormone tests to detect markers linked with neuroendocrine cancers.
Several imaging techniques are commonly used to identify the location and extent of the tumors, including:
- CT scans
- MRI scans
- PET scans
Additional specialist imaging, such as somatostatin receptor imaging, may be used for individuals suspected of having neuroendocrine lung cancer. These techniques allow medical professionals to detect even tiny malignancies that they might miss otherwise.
Neuroendocrine Cancer-Treatment Options
The most common treatment option for neuroendocrine cancer is surgery. However, for larger tumor areas or malignancies, there might be other therapeutic options too like:
Somatostatin Analogs:
Somatostatin analogs are medicines that help stop your body from producing too many hormones. They can ease the symptoms of functional NETs and help slow down the growth of tumors.
Chemotherapy:
For more aggressive forms of neuroendocrine cancer, especially high-grade carcinomas, chemotherapy may be used to destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, this treatment is often reserved for cases where surgery and other therapies are not viable options.
Targeted Therapy:
This treatment option uses drugs that focus on specific genes or proteins found in cancer cells to kill them.
Radiation Therapy:
Special types of internal radiation can be used to treat NETs. For example, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) delivers small amounts of radiation to hormone-producing NETs and Y-90 treatment uses radioactive beads to target NETs that have spread to the liver.
Additionally, clinical trials are being conducted to find better and more potent care. Hopes lie in finding a better treatment option and helping spread the cure.
Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer
Living with neuroendocrine cancer requires ongoing management of both physical and emotional health. Many patients experience significant side effects from treatments, including fatigue, digestive problems, and changes in appetite.
Therefore, supportive care is an essential aspect of treatment, providing patients with nutritional guidance, psychological support, and pain management strategies.
Follow-up care is also necessary to monitor for recurrence, especially for patients who undergo successful treatment. Additionally, regular imaging and hormone testing help ensure that the cancer has not returned and allow doctors to intervene early if necessary.
Prognosis and Survival
The prognosis depends on the stages of neuroendocrine cancer at the diagnosis, tumor type, and response to therapy options.
Early-stage neuroendocrine tumors, especially those that are slow-growing have a better prognosis than advanced-stage or aggressive tumors.
For example, patients with early-stage neuroendocrine lung cancer may have a favorable outcome if the cancer is caught early and treated promptly. Additionally, advances in treatments like PRRT and targeted therapies have also improved survival rates for patients with advanced neuroendocrine cancer.
Prevention Options
As the causes of this disease are still a mystery, prevention is an arbitrary term too. However, researchers have been able to detect risk factors, therefore, preventive measures are also getting into action.
Your healthcare professional might assess the potential risk factors like family history, or multiple endocrine neoplasia to better opt for the prognosis or suggest you preventive measures.
Final Words
To conclude, neuroendocrine lung cancer is a rare but complex disease associated with the nervous system. It requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment Understanding the neuroendocrine lung cancer symptoms, what causes neuroendocrine cancer, and the available treatment options is necessary for patients and caregivers. While there is no guaranteed cure, early detection, and individualized treatment plans can significantly improve quality of life and outcomes.
Furthermore, let us tell you about a reliable and trusted clinical research center, NHO Revive, offering the highest paid clinical trials in Nebraska for oncology research. We are at the front line of clinical trials offering a range of front-end trials in multiple inches like Small Cell Lung Cancer clinical trials. Contact us today and help us find potential therapies.
