I’ve written many times about Nutrition and NETs – clearly it should say NENs (Neuroendocrine Neoplasms) as the issues also extend to Neuroendocrine Carcinomas.  I was helped in the early days by my friend and ‘nutrition for NET’ mentor Tara Whyand, at the time, probably the top NET Nutrition Registered Dietitian in the world.  Perhaps she still is.  

Much of what Tara said and wrote, and what I emphasised, particularly in my blog and my patient group, was that much of this was not fully integrated into NEN patient care as part of a multi disciplinary approach.  Many attempts have been made, a  good example is the inclusion of dietary support in ENETS centres of excellence and the inclusion of dietitians on MDT/Tumour Board meetings.  But it’s true to say there is no standard for such arrangements.

I was therefore delighted to see this ENETS position statement on nutritional support in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) which may lead to more standardisation and increased support for these matters – the authors headed up the statement with the words “Controversies in NEN” which is probably still accurate in 2025 despite some of the science and statistics being around for double figure years.