Carcinoid Tumors: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

All carcinoid tumors, wherever they show up, affect cells that make hormones. They’re part of a group of diseases called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Most carcinoid tumors start in one of two areas: your lungs or your digestive system, also known as the GI tract. That includes places like your stomach, small intestine, colon, appendix, or rectum.It’s not as common, but sometimes the tumors start in your pancreas, your testicles if you’re a man, or ovaries if you’re a woman. Keep in mind that these tumors often grow slowly. And doctors often find them when they’re at an early stage, which makes them easier to treat.

Risks for Carcinoid Tumors

Doctors don’t know for sure why people get them. But a few things may put you at a higher risk.Genetic disease. You may get carcinoid tumors if you have an illness called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). It’s a disease that’s passed down through your family. About 10% of these tumors are due to MEN1.Another condition that can raise your risk for them is neurofibromatosis type 1.Race. More African-Americans than whites get carcinoid tumors in the GI tract.Gender. Women are slightly more likely than men to have this type of cancer.

Age. Most people are diagnosed with carcinoid tumors in their 40s or 50s.

Conditions.

Symptoms:

When carcinoid tumors form on cells that make hormones, the tumors can start to make hormone-like substances of their own. This can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on where this is going on.

For instance, if you’ve got the tumors in your GI tract, you might notice things like this happening to you:

stomach cancer illustration

Pain in your belly
Diarrhea
Constipation
Feel nauseated or throw up
Can’t breathe right
Get blood in your stool
Lose weight
Feel short of breath or wheeze

Heartbeat starts to speed up
Feel weak
Hair starts to grow on your body and face

If you have a lung carcinoid tumor, you might get symptoms like a cough, and you sometimes might cough up some bloody mucus. You also might hear a whistling sound while you breathe, called wheezing.

When you have this type of cancer for many years, you might get a condition called carcinoid syndrome. It’s a group of symptoms that start when the tumors release certain hormones into your bloodstream.

Diagnosis:

These are diagnosis & initial investigation options for carcinoid tumors;

Biospy

Blood Urine Test

Upper endoscopy

Colonoscopy.

Capsule endoscopy.

CT, or computed tomography.

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging

Radionuclide scanning.

Treatments options are below:

Surgery
Chemoembolization
Hormone therapy
Immunotherapy
Radioembolization
Targeted therapy

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