Neuroendocrine Cancer: Somatostatin Receptor (e.g. Ga68, Cu64) PET Scans – a game changer?
I was diagnosed in 2010 with metastatic NETs clearly showing on CT scan, the staging was confirmed via an Octreotide Scan which in addition pointed out two further deposits above the diaphragm (one of which has since been dealt with). In addition to routine surveillance via CT scan, I had two further Octreotide Scans in 2011 and 2013 following 3 surgeries, these confirmed the surveillance CT findings of the remnant disease. The third scan in 2013 highlighted an additional lesion in my thyroid (still under a watch and wait regime, biopsy inconclusive - but read on....). In 2018, my 6…
“An odd disposition of tumours” – less common metastases in Small Intestine and Pancreatic NETs
Every day is a learning day in NET! When I was diagnosed in 2010, my Oncologist sent me for a specialist scan that would help confirm my staging definition and to document anything that might not have shown up on CT. This was described as an Octreotide Scan (somatostatin receptor scintigraphy) (now mostly replaced by Somatostatin Receptor PET (SSTR PET) e.g. Ga68/Cu64). Lo and behold, the 3 day Octreotide scan lit up some odd places which seemed to be unconnected to my small intestine primary. I was already stage IV due to the presence of liver metastases and this was…
ASCO 2017 – Let’s talk about NETs #ASCO17
ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) is one of the biggest cancer conferences in the world normally bringing together more than 30,000 oncology professionals from around the world to discuss state-of-the-art treatment modalities, new therapies, and ongoing controversies in the field. As Neuroendorine Tumors is on a roll in terms of new treatments and continued research, we appear to be well represented with over 20 'extracts' submitted for review and display. This is fairly complex stuff but much of it will be familiar to many. I've filtered and extracted all the Neuroendocrine stuff into one list providing you with an…