Back in February 2015, I wrote an article called “Four more years” and the title came from an election campaign happening at the time when I had been on Lanreotide for approximately four years. Inspired by this campaign slogan, I too wanted four more years and crafted the blog post.
However, I was underselling myself as I’ve now hit 10 years of Lanreotide on 9th December 2020. On that day in 2010, I was still recovering from major surgery and hadn’t had any somatostatin analogues since leaving hospital on 26th Nov. Prior to surgery, I had been taking daily shots of Octreotide which did have the effect of reducing the symptoms of (so called) carcinoid syndrome. I was also administered peri-operative octreotide to de-risk the chances of a hormonal crisis during the surgery and in the hours after it. Once the IV octreotide was removed, the nurses injected a daily shot of octreotide as part of my regimen while recovering in hospital. Before surgery my oncologist and surgeon mentioned Sandostatin LAR after surgery and was surprised when told a nurse would come to my home to administer Lanreotide on 9th Dec 2010. I had heard of it and knew it was a newer type of somatostatin analogue with a shorter needle.
By the 9th December, I was feeling a lot stronger after 13 days at home since discharge. The nurse, who was to become the primary injector over the next 3 years, arrived and we went through the instructions – it was a first for both of us. I tried the stand-up method on that day, it felt not too bad but later I developed a granuloma (author’s note: that first granuloma took a few years to disappear).
Here we are 10 years later, 131 injections later, the injection is now a ‘walk in the park’ and just another day in the office of life. And I’m still here.
For my Lanreotide experience, please see these posts:
Lanreotide: it’s calling the shots – click here.
Lanreotide vs Octreotide – click here.
At Home with Lanreotide (and Octreotide) – click here
Thanks for reading.
I’m also active on Facebook. Like my page for even more news. Help me build up my new site here – click here and ‘Like’
My Diagnosis and Treatment History
Check out my Podcast Interview (click and press play)
Remember ….. in the war on Neuroendocrine Cancer, let’s not forget to win the battle for better quality of life!
Please Share this post for Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness and to help another patient

A Neuroendocrine Cancer diagnosis: I didn’t even feel ill
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on email Email I talk often about my