Welcome to the carcinoid syndrome blog

Neuroendocrine cancer patients and their doctors now have new and important tools for diagnosing and treating carcinoid heart disease (CHD) early. Last year, an international multidisciplinary team comprised of specialists on the leading edge of research and treatment for neuroendocrine cancer published guidelines in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology entitled, “Diagnosing and Managing Carcinoid Heart Disease in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Expert Statement.” Given that up to 50 percent of neuroendocrine cancer (carcinoid) patients go on to develop CHD, which is often more life-threatening for the patient than the usually slow-growing neuroendocrine tumors, this is a huge step towards the goal of educating patients and doctors about the current gold standard in diagnosis and treatment.

Find Food You Love is a new nutrition and recipe guide for people living with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and carcinoid syndrome.  The guide has been created by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals in support of the NET community.

My take on carcinoid syndrome — Keep fighting.

My name is Geri McDowell, and I’m a proud resident of Lexington, Kentucky.  After years of abdominal discomfort I was diagnosed with small intestine neuroendocrine tumors in 2003.  Surgery kept the disease in check, but five years later it reoccurred, this time along with the classic symptoms of carcinoid syndrome—abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Are you wondering what are the best foods to eat if you have carcinoid syndrome?  What changes should you make to your diet if you have neuroendocrine tumors? The neuroendocrine tumor (NET) community is invited to attend a national webcast on Wednesday, October 18 featuring nutritionist Leigh Anne Burns, who has extensive experience working with NET patients.  The free webcast will begin at 7 pm EST, 6 pm CST, 5 pm MST, and 4 pm PST.  This presentation, sponsored by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is part of a special series of webcasts designed to give patients living with neuroendocrine tumors direct access to thought leaders in the NET community.