Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) Archives

14 Jan 2025

8 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer – If you can see it, you can detect it!

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship111In-DTPA-D-Phe1, 123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 18F-FDG, 18F-FDOPA, Advanced neuroendocrine cancer, CT enterography, CT scan, Diagnosis, DOTA-NOC, DOTA-TATE, DOTA-TOC, Echocardiogram, Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), Endoscopy, Explorer PET scan, Fluoro-18-L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine, Ga68 PET/CT, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroblastoma, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Octreoscan (Octreotide scan), Octreotide scan, Paraganglioma, Pentetreotide, Pheochromocytoma, Somatostatin analogues, Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), SPECT, SSTR-PET, Survivorship, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), Ultrasound, X-ray

Updated December 2025 Background Scanning is a key diagnostic support and surveillance tool for any cancer. Even though you have elevated bloods or urine (....or not), a picture of your insides is really like a thousand words.... and each picture has a story behind it. Scanning can be a game changer in the hunt for tumours and although scans do not normally confirm the cancer type and grade, they certainly help with that piece of detective work and are key in the staging of the cancer. When I read stories of people in a difficult diagnosis, I always find myself saying 'a scan…

14 Jun 2024

By Ronny Allan

16 Comments

The Syndromes of Neuroendocrine Cancer – Early Signs of a Late Diagnosis

A spotlight on NENs - Syndromes, Awareness5-HIAA, Achlorhydria, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Alcohol, Angioma, Carcinoid crisis, Carcinoid heart disease, Carcinoid syndrome, Carcinoid tumour, Carney-Stratakis syndrome (CSS), Cerebellum, Cushing's disease, Cushing's syndrome, Dermatitis, Diet, Familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC), Fat malabsorption, Functional tumour, Gastrinoma, Glucagon, Glucagonoma, Haemangioblastoma, Hedinger syndrome, Hereditary pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes, Hypercalcemia, Hypercortisolism, Hypokalemia, Insulinoma, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), MEN1 syndrome, MEN2 syndrome, MEN2A syndrome, MEN2B syndrome, NET syndromes, Neuroendocrine cancer, Non-functional tumour, Paraganglioma, Paraneoplastic syndromes, Pheochromocytoma, Pituitary gland, PPoma, SDHA, SDHAF2, SDHB, SDHC, Somatostatin analogues, Somatostatinoma, Surgery, Sweet's syndrome, The 5 E's, Verner-Morrison syndrome, VIPoma, Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome, Von Recklinghausen's disease, Wermer syndrome, Whipple's triad

There are some curious things about Neuroendocrine Cancer (NETs elsewhere in the text on the basis that a hormonal syndrome is extremely rare in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC)). One of them is that it can very often exhibit one or more vague symptoms collectively known as a 'syndrome'. Syndrome is an apt word to describe these complications as the most general meaning in medical terms is a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disorder or disease". Having a syndrome can often be the difference between having a 'functional' condition or a non-functional' condition. This frequently makes NET …

29 May 2024

By Ronny Allan

7 Comments

I bet my flush beats yours?

Awareness, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, Treatment5-HIAA, Bradykinin, Broken capillaries, Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), Carcinoid syndrome, Carcinoid tumour, Estrogen, Flushing, Functional tumour, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), Histamine, Hormones, Hypokalemia, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Mastocytosis, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Noradrenaline, Nutrition, Octreotide, Pheochromocytoma, Prostaglandin, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Rosacea, Serotonin, Substance P, Surgery, Tachykinin, The 5 E's, VIPoma, Watery diarrhea

Background Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) can sometimes present with one or more vague symptoms which occasionally results in a lengthy diagnostic phase for some. Sure, there can be issues with doctor experience and knowledge that can add to the problem. However, some people do present with multiple vague and confusing symptoms and some people have comorbidities that have similar symptoms. Textbook diagnostics just don't make sense, sometimes even when the doctor suspects a NET i.e. classic symptoms of 'something' but with negative markers for NETs. Clearly, those are extreme cases and just like other complex diseases, diagnoses of NET can be…

22 Mar 2024

By Ronny Allan

15 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer – Horrible Hormones

Patient Advocacy24-hour urinary catacholamines and metanephrines, 5-HIAA, 5-Hydrotryptophan (5-HTP), Addison's disease, Adrenal insufficiency, Adrenaline, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Aldosterone, Anaphylactic shock, Androgrens, Antihistamines, Appendiceal NET, Bradykinin, Calcitonin, Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), Carcinoid crisis, Carcinoid heart disease, Carcinoid syndrome, Catecholamines, Chromogranin A (CgA), Corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), Cushing's disease, Cushing's syndrome, Diarrhea, Endocrine, Enterochromaffin cells, Epinephrine, Estrogen, Fight or flight, Flushing, Ga68 PET/CT, Gastric NET, Gastrin, Glucagon, Histamine, Hormones, HPA axis, Hyperparathyroidism, Hypocortisolism, Hypotension, Hypothalamus, Insulin, Intraoperative hypertensive crisis, Islet cell, Islet of Langerhams, Kallikrein, Lanreotide, Lung NETs, Malabsorption, Mast cell, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), Metanephrines, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN), NET syndromes, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN), Neurokinin A (NKA), Neuropeptide K, Neurotensin, Neurotransmitter, Norepinephrine, Nutrition, Octreotide, Octreotide scan, Ovarian NEN, Pancreastatin, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pancreatic polypeptide (PP), Paraganglioma, Pellagra, Peptide, Pheochromocytoma, PPoma, Prostaglandin, Pruritus, Serotonin, Somatostatin, Somatostatinoma, Substance P, Tachycardia, Tachykinin, Telotristat ethyl (Xermelo), Testosterone, The 5 E's, Tryptophan, Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), Vasodilation, VIPoma, Xermelo (Telotristat ethyl)

Updated and reviewed 20th March 2024 Hormonal imbalances are quite common in many conditions including day to day stuff. With Neuroendocrine Cancer, it can be a real challenge both at diagnostic and maintenance phases. In addition to the cancer angle, there's some strange stuff going on, inexplicable, frightening for the patient, an unwanted ingredient causing chaos! Until I was diagnosed with metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, I didn't have a clue about hormones - it's one of those things you just take for granted. However, hormones are vital to human health (male and female) and it's only when things go wrong you…

09 Oct 2023

By Ronny Allan

7 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer: Troublesome Thyroids (Updated 2026 Edition)

Awareness, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentAnaplastic, Axillary nodes, Calcitonin, Calcium, Core Biopsy, Familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC), Fine needle aspiration (FNA), Follicular cell, Ga68 PET/CT, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto's disease, Hurthle cell neoplasm, Hyperthryroidism, Hypothyroidism, Levothyroxine, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), MEN1 syndrome, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN), Overactive thyroid, Papillary thyroid cancer, Parathyroid gland, SCF node, Supraclavicularfossa, Thyroid, Thyroid cancer, Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), Underactive thyroid

Thyroid information disclaimerThis content is for general education and reassurance only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Thyroid nodules, thyroid function tests, cytology categories (Bethesda/THY), and molecular tests (such as ThyroSeq, Afirma, or ThyroidPrint) all require interpretation by qualified clinicians who know your full medical history, imaging, pathology, and symptoms. Thyroid disease is common and highly individual. Most nodules are benign, and many thyroid abnormalities are incidental findings — especially in people who undergo frequent imaging. Decisions about biopsy, molecular testing, surgery, or surveillance should always be made with your endocrinologist, surgeon, or multidisciplinary…

24 Nov 2022

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN) – genetic related syndromes

Awareness, Patient AdvocacyCarney-Stratakis syndrome (CSS), Familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC), Genetics, Hereditary pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), MEN1 syndrome, MEN2 syndrome, MEN2A syndrome, MEN2B syndrome, MEN4 syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Paraganglioma, Pheochromocytoma, Tuberous sclerosis (TSC), Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome

Cancer is a genetic disorder. It happens when genes that manage cell activity mutate and create abnormal cells that divide and multiply, eventually disrupting how your body works. Medical researchers estimate 5% to 12% of all cancers are caused by inherited genetic mutations that you can’t control. More frequently, cancer happens as an acquired genetic mutation. Acquired genetic mutations happen over the course of your life. This is a very general description of the close relationships between genetics and cancer but I wanted to focus below on hereditary syndromes and genetic disorders related to Neuroendocrine Neoplasms. Definitions - the differences between Hereditary…

24 Sep 2019

By Ronny Allan

1 Comment

Clinical Trials – PEN-221 for Neuroendocrine Cancer

Clinical Trials and ResearchAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Carcinoid tumour, Clinical trial, Incurable cancer, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), Merkel cell carcinoma, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Paraganglioma, PEN-221, Pheochromocytoma, Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), Somatostatin receptors (SSTR)

What is PEN-221?Tarveda Therapeutics is discovering and developing a new class of potent and selective precision oncology medicines for the treatment of patients with various solid tumor malignancies. Their strategy includes developing their own proprietary Pentarin miniature conjugates to enhance the effectiveness of promising anti-cancer payloads that have struggled without their selective targeting to solid tumors. These medicines are known as 'Pentarins'. PEN-221 is the lead candidate 'Pentarin' aimed at Neuroendocrine Cancer - PEN-221.Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is frequently overexpressed on several types of solid tumors, including neuroendocrine tumors and small-cell lung cancer. Peptide agonists of SSTR2 are rapidly internalized…

Tag: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)