World NET Cancer Day & Month

November 8, 2021September 20, 2022 by missbriannamarie

NET Awareness Month & Day

November is NET Cancer Awareness month and specifically World NET Cancer Day is on November 10. This is a day to raise awareness of NET cancers (Neuroendocrine tumor) and to voice the needs of NET community for improved diagnostics, information, care, and research by the International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance (INCA). It also is NET awareness month too so even if you miss this post on Nov.10 its ok you can still utilize it.

What are NET tumors?

NET tumors are the most common type of neuroendocrine tumors. These solid masses occur when extremely specific neuroendocrine cells (nerve cells that respond to certain signals by releasing hormones into the blood) start to multiply and distribute uncontrollably. The resulting collection of cells can join collectively and form a hormone-producing (functional) or non-hormone-producing (nonfunctional) tumor, which may be benign or cancerous.

Where can they be found?

They are also called carcinoid tumors. They can be found in various places in the body. Some examples are: gastrointestinal tract, lungs, or thymus. Thankfully, they don’t grow fast. They are slow-growing tumors. Due to this, symptoms are usually nonexistent or if they do happen, it is after years.

Before my diagnosis of a typical carcinoid tumor, I never heard of NET cancer! Which is why awareness months and days are so important. You can read more on my diagnosis story here.

Over 90% Of All Carcinoid/Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Patients Are Incorrectly Diagnosed And Treated For The Wrong Disease.
Average Time From Initial Onset Of Symptoms To Proper Diagnosis Exceeds Five Years.
Over 115,000 People Are Living With NETs In The United States.
Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors Make Up About 2% Of All Lung Tumors. They Make Up About 25% Of All Types Of Neuroendocrine Tumors.
NETs are considered rare tumors, and the current incidence is reported to be about 6 cases in 100 000 in adults and about 2.8 cases per million in the pediatric age group

The NET Ribbon & Significance

The zebra print pattern is the awareness color ribbon. The significance behind the zebra print is: While studying in medical school, many students are told, “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” In other words, physicians are taught to focus on the most likely opportunities, rather than the unusual ones, when making a diagnosis. However, in some cases, it is important to look for a “zebra,” such as a rare carcinoid tumor. But zebras do exist, and the unlikely can and does sometimes occur. When diagnosing patients who show diverse symptoms, we need doctors to learn that when they hear hoofbeats it could also be a zebra.