Neuroendocrine Tumors

At Winship, our specialized doctors and nurses work together with you to determine the best treatment options. We realize you want to start treatment as soon as possible. By scheduling one appointment at the clinic, you will have access to three specially trained oncologists and a nurse navigator who will help guide you and your family through treatment. The goal of this clinic is to provide you with complete care and answers to all of your questions.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

• Access to doctors and surgeons who rank among the top cancer experts in the world.
• Weekly review of patient cases by the full team of experts.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the treatment process.
• Access to support groups and education classes for you and your caregivers.
• Availability of new treatment options within our clinical trials program.

These types of tumors can be found throughout the body including the gastrointestinal tract, brain and lungs. Neuroendocrine tumors are also referred to as carcinoid or islet cell tumor.

The stage of your disease indicates how much it has spread. Early stage cancer is a disease limited to one organ. Late stage cancer indicates spread to other organs like to the liver, lung or to the bone. Determining the stage of your cancer will affect your treatment plan. Your Winship care team may use one or more tests and procedures to determine the stage of your cancer, including:

• Physical exam and blood work
• CT and/or PET scan
• MRI
• Octreotide scan: this method is used specifically for neuroendocrine tumors to see if the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
• Biopsy: a sample of tissue will be removed and examined by a pathologist.

Here are some of the treatment options:

Surgery: a physician will remove the tumor using the latest techniques including minimally invasive procedures when appropriate.

Liver directed therapies: are a group of minimally invasive procedures usually performed by interventional radiologists. These procedures include ablation and transcatheter therapies. Ablation means the destruction of the tumors by directly applying heat, cold or energy (microwave). Transcatheter therapies include injecting small particles of radioactive material directly into the blood vessels that supply the tumor. Liver directed therapies may be used shrink tumors in preparation for surgery.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapies: drugs are used to kill or slow the growth of the tumor. In addition to standard targeted therapies, participating in clinical trials may be an option in certain cases. Clinical trials provide patients access to new medications that are being developed to treat neuroendocrine cancer.

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.

Call us at (404) 778-0032. Winship experts are available to provide a second opinion.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.