Carcinoids
What Is It?
Carcinoids are rare, slow growing tumours that may not cause any symptoms for several years. Most of these tumours occur in people over the age of 60. Carcinoid tumours are also sometimes just called ‘carcinoid’. They are one type of tumour of the neuroendocrine system.Over 8 out of 10 (85%) of all carcinoid tumours diagnosed are in the appendix and small bowel. But they can also develop in the:
- Pancreas
- Kidney
- Ovaries
- Testicles
- Oesophagus
- Stomach
- Lung
Symptoms
Symptoms will depend on where the carcinoid develops in the body. i.e. the
symptoms for carcinoid of the lung will be different to symptoms of carcinoid of
the kidney etc.
Web link -
click here.
Treatment
As with other types of cancer, the earlier carcinoid is diagnosed the easier it is to control and, possibly, to cure. Your doctors will plan your treatment according to:Where your carcinoid started (the primary tumour)
Whether it has spread
The symptoms you have
How the cells look under a microscope (the grade)
Your general health
Whether you have carcinoid syndrome
Carcinoids grow at different rates but they often grow very slowly. Some may
not grow at all for months or years. If your carcinoid is not growing or causing
symptoms, your doctors may decide that you don’t need any treatment straight
away.
The main treatments for carcinoid are:
Surgery
Somatostatin analogues (octreotide or lanreotide)
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Embolisation of the hepatic artery
Interferon
Radiofrequency ablation therapies