What are carcinoid tumors?

February 26, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Could you please tell me what a carcinoid tumor is and what causes them? I was recently diagnosed with some in my stomach.

DEAR READER: Carcinoid tumors are slow-growing tumors that commonly begin in the lungs or digestive tract. Because they are slow growing, they don’t produce symptoms in their early stages. They excrete hormone-like substances. In later stages, flushing of the face and upper chest, cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, wheezing, bowel obstruction, diarrhea and difficulty breathing may occur.

The primary treatment for this condition is surgery, which will be successful as long as the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Treatment modalities for arresting tumor growth are experimental at this stage but show great promise. Chemotherapy is of little benefit and is not generally indicated.

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Rare Cancer Misdiagnosed As Harmless Bowel Condition

April 9, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to see you devote some space to a rare cancer called carcinoid cancer which is formed by neuroendocrine tumors. My husband was diagnosed with metastasizing carcinoid cancer in 2006.

The mascot for these patients is the zebra because the disease is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and other bowel ailments. Because of the difficulty in getting a proper diagnosis, the motto is “If you think it’s a horse, think again”.

My husband’s case is unusual because his primary tumor was located around the descending aorta, not the liver, as is typical. The cancer has since spread to his lungs and bones. He is a valiant warrior and tries to live a normal life in spite of the devastating side effects. As far as we know there is no cure. Treatment is usually surgery to reduce the tumors or a drug called Sandostatin. [Read more...]

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