Treatment for neuroendocrine cancer
Your treatment for neuroendocrine cancer depends on a number of factors including:
- whether you have a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) or a neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC)
- how fast your cancer is growing (the grade)
- where it started in your body (the primary site)
- how far it has spread (the stage)
Neuroendocrine cancers grow at different rates. Some can grow very slowly, others more quickly. Some NETs might not grow at all for months or years. So you might not need treatment straight away. Your doctor might just keep an eye on the cancer with regular tests.
Below we have links to general information about the different types of treatment for neuroendocrine cancer. For more detailed information about treatment for your neuroendocrine cancer, choose your type from the types menu below.
Preparing for treatment and life afterwards (prehabilitation)
There are things you can do to help you feel more in control of your health when preparing for treatment. This is called prehabilitation or prehab.
Treatment options for neuroendocrine cancer
The most common treatment options for neuroendocrine cancer is surgery. Other treatment options include somatostatin analogues, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Surgery for neuroendocrine cancer
Surgery is the main treatment for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). You might also have surgery as part of your treatment for a neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC).
Somatostatin analogues for neuroendocrine cancer
Some NETs make large amounts of hormones and cause symptoms. Somatostatin analogues are a medicine that reduces and controls high hormone levels.
Chemotherapy for neuroendocrine cancer
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). You might also have it for a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) that has spread.
Targeted cancer drugs
Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ the differences in NET cells compared to normal cells that help them survive and grow.
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
PRRT is a type of radioisotope therapy for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). It is also called radioligand therapy. It uses a radioactive substance. This is attached to a man made form of a hormone called somatostatin.
External radiotherapy for neuroendocrine cancer
Radiotherapy means the use of radiation, usually x-rays, to treat cancer cells. External radiotherapy uses a machine from outside of the body.
Radioactive iodine MIBG (131 I-MIBG) for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
131 I-MIBG is a type of radioisotope therapy. It uses radioactive iodine attached to a substance called MIBG to kill the neuroendocrine tumour (NET) cells.
Trans arterial embolisation (TAE) for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) in the liver
Trans arterial embolisation (TAE) is a treatment to the liver. A specialist doctor injects a substance to block the blood supply to a NET in the liver.
Radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
Radiofrequency and microwave ablation are both treatments to the liver. They use heat made by radiowaves or microwaves to destroy NET cells in the liver.
