The Classification, Grading and Staging of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (incorporating WHO 2022 classification changes)

The Classification, Grading and Staging of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (incorporating WHO 2022 classification changes)

Patient Advocacy
- Updated 11th March 2024 - This section of my website has been published since 2015 but the most recent update to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Classification of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms is so significant, so gamechanging, that I have re-released the updated text. You may see these important publications called 'Blue Books'. Words are very important in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs).  Nomenclature has important meaning and context more than most other cancers due to the heterogeneity of this group of neoplasms.  Grade and Stage are two factors inextricably linked to the nomenclature and while there have been less changes in these areas in the 2022 update, I have incorporated both in their own sections with enhancements to improve understanding. Don't be confused by the "2022" date as the major update is…
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A review of July 2023 on RonnyAllan.NET

A review of July 2023 on RonnyAllan.NET

Newsletters
On my website RonnyAllan.NET, July was a bit quieter mainly due to my holiday and other commitments. However, there was still significant support within and without the community. Below, I'll list the top performing blog posts in July, I can assure you there is some great information in there, and you may have missed some of my newest blogs which made it to the top 10. Number 1 is the story of US Representative Joaquin Castro, great diagnostic story and showing signs of being vocal about NET and the US healthcare system to a much wider audience - this is great awareness too! Bonus photos of our walk in Dartmoor at the end.  Best wishes to Joaquin Castro Do not miss this story [caption id="attachment_44523" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Click on the…
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The Heterogeneity of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

The Heterogeneity of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Awareness, Patient Advocacy
If you read any authoritative source on this cancer, it will normally begin with "Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) are heterogeneous tumours .............".  The term heterogeneous means diverse in character or content; or a structure with dissimilar components or elements.  This is not surprising as these tumours are found in Neuroendocrine cells throughout the vast majority of the human anatomy. And yet, when you look at many hospital/healthcare sites, advocate organisation sites, and cancer information sources not maintained by Neuroendocrine Cancer scientists or specialists, you might start to think there is just one big type of NET and only one syndrome. Once again, this is partly related to the lingering use of the term Carcinoid. However, while I applaud national and international NET foundations for providing GP (PCP) with symptom lists, they…
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Neuroendocrine Cancer – surveillance and follow up

Neuroendocrine Cancer – surveillance and follow up

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, Survivorship
Since 2010 I've had a lot of surveillance and testing. More than people can imagine. I can see from various comments on my public pages and posts within my private group, that some people get a lot more than me and I get more than others. It's not true to say we all get the same, there are many factors including stage, grade, type of Neuroendocrine Neoplasm, healthcare system/guidelines, miscellaneous problems, therapy, and even age.In the first year or two after diagnosis, I seemed to be in a continuous testing phase but that was mainly due to seeing so many different doctors for so many different issues. In reality, I was seeing and being assessed by my Oncologist around 3-month intervals, eventually moving to four. After that, I moved to…
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