23Apr 2023 by Ronny Allan No Comments
Low FODMAPs – The NET Effect

Low FODMAPs – The NET Effect

Diet and Nutrition, Patient Advocacy, The NET Effect Series
Background Many people with NET have had issues prior to diagnosis and then continue to have similar issues after. For some it will be either one, i.e. no issues before but issues after or vice versa.  However, it's even possible that some people have will have different issues after diagnosis than they had before, e.g. the side effects of the treatment will produce new problems for those people.  In the early days, I once said to my Oncologist "I was never misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but I sometimes feel like I have it now". IBS is said to affect up to 1 in 7 of the 'western' population in varying degrees of severity with the symptoms of abdominal pain and abnormal bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea or a mixture…
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18Oct 2016 by Ronny Allan 22 Comments
Did you hear the one about the constipated NET patient?

Did you hear the one about the constipated NET patient?

Awareness, Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, Treatment
In my neck of the woods, "did you hear the one about the ........." is normally a precursor to a witty comment, or a joke.   However, constipation for NET patients is not actually funny - read on.Certain types of Neuroendocrine Cancer are very heavily associated with diarrhea, either as a symptom of one of the NET Syndromes (yes there is more than one .....); or as a result of surgery or certain other treatments.  Occasionally, these symptoms and side effects can all combine to make it quite a nasty and worrying side effect.I must admit to being surprised to find myself with feelings of constipation from around 4-5 years after my treatment and I set about trying to find out why that might be. To understand why I got to this…
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15Sep 2016 by Ronny Allan 19 Comments
Neuroendocrine Cancer – the diarrhea jigsaw

Neuroendocrine Cancer – the diarrhea jigsaw

Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, Survivorship, Treatment
Diarrhea can be a symptom of many conditions, but it is particularly key in Neuroendocrine Tumour (NET) Syndromes and types, in particular, so called Carcinoid Syndrome but also in those associated with various other NET types such as VIPoma, PPoma, Gastrinoma, Somatostatinoma, Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.Secondly, it can be a key consequence (side effect) of the treatment for Neuroendocrine Tumours and Carcinomas, in particular following surgery where various bits of the gastrointestinal tract are excised to remove and/or debulk tumour load.There are other reasons that might be causing or contributing, including (but not limited to) endocrine problems such as hyperthryoidism, mastocytosis or Addison's disease (which may be secondary illnesses in those with NETs). It's also possible that 'non-sydromic' issues such as stress and diet are contributing. It could be caused by…
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26Jan 2016 by Ronny Allan 39 Comments
Ignore this post about Neuroendocrine Cancer

Ignore this post about Neuroendocrine Cancer

Awareness
Ignore this post about Neuroendocrine Cancer? Actually, you must share it widely, people out there will have this disease and need a diagnosis. When I was diagnosed, I wasn't feeling ill. In hindsight, I now know some of the signs were there, I just put up with them. Neuroendocrine Cancer had laid a trap for me, and I fell right into it. You see, Neuroendocrine Cancer can be very quiet and unobtrusive. It also plays the 'long game' and will sometimes take years before it's finally discovered.  It is very very very sneaky.Not satisfied with loitering in your small intestine, appendix, lungs, stomach, pancreas, rectum, and a host of other places, it wants to reach out to your liver, your lymph nodes, your bones, bung you up with fibrosis, and get into your…
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