Carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid tumours
Outlook
If the whole tumour can be removed, this may cure the cancer and symptoms altogether. But even if surgeons cannot remove the entire tumour, it usually grows slowly and can be controlled with medication.
Overall,people with carcinoid tumourshave a good life expectancy compared to many other cancers, witharound 70-80%surviving at least five years from diagnosis. Many people remain relatively well and lead active lives, with only occasional symptoms.
Butas the tumourgrows or spreads, it will produce more and more hormones, and it may eventually be difficult to completely control symptoms with medication. You may need further surgery or other treatments.
Unfortunately, life expectancy is not as good for cancer that has spread to other parts of your body, because it won't usually be possible to remove all of it. However, treatment can still control your symptoms and slow down the spread of cancer.
You can read more about the statistics and outlook for carcinoid on the Cancer Research UK website.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
A carcinoid tumour is a rare type of cancerous tumour. Read about the causes and treatments, and about a group of symptoms they can cause, known as carcinoid syndrome.
Signs and symptoms
In the early stages of having a carcinoid tumour, you may not have any symptoms. You may also not have symptoms if the tumour is just in your digestive system, as any hormones it produces will be brok
What causes carcinoid tumours?
It'snotknown exactlywhy carcinoid tumours develop, but it's thought that mostoccur by chance. Your chances of developing a carcinoid tumour may be increased if you have: a rare family syndrome call
Diagnosing carcinoid tumours
Acarcinoid tumour may be found incidentally for example, as a surgeon is removing an appendix. In this case, the tumour will often be caught early and removed along with the appendix, causing no furth
Treating carcinoid tumours and carcinoid syndrome
If the tumour is caught early, it may be possible to completely remove it and cure the cancer altogether. Otherwise, surgeons will remove as much of the tumour as possible (debulking). You can read m
What can I do to help myself?
There are things you can do yourself to manage some of the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Generally, you should avoid triggersof flushing , such as: alcohol large meals spicy foods foods contai
Outlook
If the whole tumour can be removed, this may cure the cancer and symptoms altogether. But even if surgeons cannot remove the entire tumour, it usually grows slowly and can be controlled with medicatio
Information about you
If you have carcinoid syndrome, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look f
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