HEARTLAND CARCINOIDS & NETs
Serving Neuroendocrine Cancer Survivors & Caregivers
Heartland Carcinoid/NETs Support Group
2901 Bluegrass Ct.
Columbia, MO 65201
ph: (573) 514-4089
fax: (302) 729-0582
Heartlan
Treatments & Monitoring
Treatments and Monitoring Tests for Neuroendocrine Tumors
Scans and X-rays
A variety of scans or other radiological tests may be used to diagnose or monitor Neuroendocrine Cancers. You can "Google" these tests to find out more information, or check our Glossary/Dictionary page for more information. We have listed a representative sample below:
X-ray
Ultrasound
Colonoscopy
Endoscopy
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Upper GI with small bowel follow-through
CT Scan
PET FDG scan
Octreoscan
MRI
GA 68 PET scan - in clinical trials in US; available in Europe and the far east
Surgical Procedures
Needle Biopsy - Removing part of a tumor or lesion for evaluation by pathology lab by needle inserted from the exterior of the body. This procedure is sometimes guided by ultrasound or CT scan.
Laproscopy - Minimally invasive surgical technique whereby the surgeon accesses the internal organs through multiple small incisions using endoscopic tools and trocars.
Laparotomy - Open abdominal surgery; often used for exploratory purposes to determine the extent of disease and to remove multiple areas of disease.
Resection - The removal of tissue or parts of an organ
Debulking - Removal of part or all of a tumor or lesion
RFA - Radio Frequency Ablation - Destruction of tumor or lesions by high frequency electrical current
Thermal Ablation - Destruction of tumor or lesion by heat
Cryoablation - Destruction of tumor or lesion by freezing
Chemoembolization - chemotherapy agents delivered to tumors of the liver by arterial catheterization or percutaneous needle
Liver Transplant - Replacing the liver with a donor liver or the liver of the patient after treatment out of the body
See our Glossary/Dictionary page for more information!
Medicines & Chemotherapy
Listed below are only a few of the currently used medicines and chemotherapy agents used for neuroendocrine cancers. Please consult with your oncologist or visit our Glossary/Dictionary pages for other medications that may help your particular type of cancer.
Octreotide/Sandostatin
Lanreotide/Somatuline Depot
RAD001 - Afinitor® (everolimus)
Sutent
Chemoembolization
PRRT
Systemic & Targeted Radiation Therapies:
IND 111
MIBG 137
LU 177
Y-90
TheraSpheres
SirSpheres
Pathology/Laboratory Monitoring
Tumor Tissue:
Ki-67 - Quantitative
Qualitative
Synaptopysin - Quantitative
Qualitative
Argentaffin
Chromogranin A
Chemo Resistant Assays
Urine:
5-HIAA 24 Hour Urine Test
Catecholamines 24 Hour Urine Test
Blood:
CBC
CMP
CGA-Chromogranin A
Neurokinen A
Pancreastatin
Serotonin (5-HT), Serum
Substance P
Glucagon
Insulin
Other assays and tests may be ordered depending on the type of tumor or syndrome being treated/monitored.
See the 4th Edition NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS, A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT for a full description of many tests, preparatory instructions and restrictions and a compre-hensive discussion of neuroendocrine tumors and syndromes. Always check with your doctor and the testing facility for any requirements and restrictions prior to testing.
More information is also available at the websites of The Carcinoid Foundation, The Caring for Carcinoid Foundation, Interscience Institute and the websites for various laboratories.
Clinical Trials
PRRT - An Emerging Technique for Treating Neuroendocrine Tumors
PRRT - What is it and how does it work?
PRRT is an abbreviation of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. A compound that is attracted to receptors on the tumor cells is combined with radioactive compounds to deliver the killing effect of the radioactivity directly to the tumor, and avoiding the destruction of healthy cells often found in external beam radiation treatments. Currently there are no FDA-approved PRRT therapies available in the United States, though it has been used in Europe since 1996. There are two clinical trials of PRRT therapy underway in the US at Excel Diagnostics in Houston, TX [IND 111 and LU 177 - see Clinical Trials]. PRRT therapy is currently offered at the following european institutions:
- Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Institut und Klinik fur Nuklearmedizin Universitats Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Zentralklinik, Bad Berka, Germany.
Other locations offering this therapy can be found in other parts of the world, such as Sweden, Singapore, and Australia. Those seeking this therapy are encouraged to check carefully on the accessibility of this treatment and payment options for US citizens in foreign locations. US insurance companies do not usually pay for these treatments, though a few have paid in the past.
PRRT - A member's experience and tips!
Terry Yake with Brigit Avis of the Basel staff
Terry Yake is one of our members who lives in the Kansas City area and who has recently traveled to Basel, Switzerland for this therapy. To read about his experiences and tips and see some glorious pictures of the Basel, Switzerland area click on the links below.
Terry Yake describes his experiences in Basel.
Be patient for the pictures...they take a while to load onto your screen! They are worth the wait! When the picture appears in a new window, use your right and left arrow keys to move to the next picture!
This website made possible by gifts from our donors and a Sunflower Grant from:
Copyright 2009 Heartland Carcinoid/NETs Support Group. All rights reserved.
Heartland Carcinoid/NETs Support Group
2901 Bluegrass Ct.
Columbia, MO 65201
ph: (573) 514-4089
fax: (302) 729-0582
Heartlan
