Pancreatic cancer Archives

15 Mar 2025

29 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer and Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) – the Digested Version (Nutrition Series Article 5)

Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, Survivorship, TreatmentAcid reflux, Advanced neuroendocrine cancer, Amylase, Antiacids, Barrett's Esophagus, Bile acid malabsorption, Bile acid sequestrant, Carcinoid syndrome, Carcinoid tumour, Cholestyramine, Exocrine function (pancreas), Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, Fecal elastase test, Fecal fat, H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA), Hormones, Lanreotide, Lipase, Malabsorption, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, NET syndromes, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nutrition, Nutrizym, Octreotide, Pancrease, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic insufficiency, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pancreatin, Pancrex, Pepcid (Famotidine), Protease, Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), Quality of LIfe (QoL), Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Somatostatin analogues, Steatorrhea, Surgery, Total gastrectomy, Total pancreatectomy, Zantac, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

After years of avoiding pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) since a 2010 diagnosis, I finally asked for some on a trial basis at the end of 2017. To be honest, for some time, I thought they were really only needed in the NET world for those with pancreatic issues (pNETs). I've always known I've had some digestive issues related to malabsorption. However, I'm wasn't losing weight - this has been stable for some years (but see below). Plus, my key vitamin levels (B12 and D) were in range. However, I had been struggling with a lot of bloating issues, thus…

16 Feb 2025

By Ronny Allan

2 Comments

Don’t believe the hype – Neuroendocrine Cancer Myths debunked

Awareness, Diet and Nutrition, Inspiration, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, Survivorship, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Afinitor, Benign tumour, Carcinoid syndrome, Carcinoid tumour, Chemotherapy, CT scan, Diarrhea, Everolimus, Ga68 PET/CT, Hormones, Incurable cancer, Lanreotide, Malignant, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nutrition, Octreoscan (Octreotide scan), Octreotide, Pancreatic cancer, Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), Quality of LIfe (QoL), Serotonin, Small intestine NET (SI NET), Somatostatin analogues, Sunitinib (Sutent), Surgery, Terminal cancer

Edited and refreshed 13th January 2026 There's a lot of inaccurate and out-of-date information out there. Some are just a lack of understanding, and some are caused by out-of-date websites. Often the problem is a result of patient forum myth spreading exacerbated by poor moderation in the groups concerned. Some can only be described as propaganda. Some of it even comes from uninformed doctors and bizarrely and disappointingly from NET advocate organisations. All the graphics below contain links to relevant blog posts. Myth 1: All Neuroendocrine Neoplasms will metastasise Simply untrue. They are a heterogeneous group of tumours. Read more…

01 Dec 2024

By Ronny Allan

23 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer – tumour markers and hormone levels

A Spotlight on NENs - Testing Series, Patient Advocacy131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 5-HIAA, 5-HT, 5-HTP, 5-Hydrotryptophan (5-HTP), 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA), 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Biopsy, C-peptide, Calcitonin, Carcinoid crisis, Carcinoid heart disease, Carcinoid syndrome, Catecholamines, Chromaffin cells, Chromogranin, Chromogranin A (CgA), Chromogranin B (CgB), Chromogranin C (CgC), Cortisol, Electrolytes, Endocrine, Fasting Gut Endocrine Profile, Flushing, Gastric NET, Gastrin, Gastrin pH, Gastrinoma, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Genetic testing, Glucagon, Glucagonoma, Hedinger syndrome, Histamine, Hormones, Hypertension, Insulin, Insulinoma, MEN1 syndrome, Metanephrines, Molecular markers, NETest, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Neurokinin A (NKA), NKA, NT-proBNP, Pancreastatin, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pancreatic polypeptide (PP), Pheochromocytoma, Plasma 5HIAA, PPoma, Proinsulin, Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), Red blood count (RBC), Renal insufficiency, Serotonin, Serum serotonin, Somatostatin, Somatostatinoma, Substance K, Substance P, Tachycardia, Tachykinin, VIPoma, Wheezing, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Originally published 2016, updated October 2025 Background Some people hear the terms "tumour markers" and "hormone levels" when they are diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs). That might be confusing or even alarming at the time. Most people diagnosed with cancer will have had a form of medical testing at some point in their life, i.e. the sampling and testing of blood, urine, saliva, stool or body tissue. With NENs, the medical staff are just measuring the content of a 'substance' and then taking a view whether this is normal or not based on pre-determined ranges. These tests are normally done…

08 Nov 2024

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

Pancreatic cysts – something or nothing?

Patient Advocacy, The NET Effect SeriesPancreatic cancer, Pancreatic cyst, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pancreatic pseudocyst, pNET

What are cysts? Cysts are sacs or capsules that form in the skin or inside the body. They may contain fluid or semisolid material. Although cysts can appear anywhere in the body, most frequently they live in the skin, ovaries, breasts or kidneys. Most cysts are not cancerous. What are pancreatic cysts? Pancreatic cystic lesions are being found more frequently on cross-sectional imaging studies (e.g. conventional imaging such as CT/MRI/Ultrasound). Although many of these cysts are discovered incidentally in asymptomatic patients, many have a malignant potential. Coupled with the lack of a single diagnostic test for accurate risk stratification and…

27 Oct 2024

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

I wish I had another cancer

Awareness, Inspiration, Patient AdvocacyNeuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Pancreatic cancer

AN OPINION POST I’ve seen the term ‘Cancer Olympics’ many times on my social media travels, it’s been used in several contexts. For example, Dr Robin McGee uses it to describe her ordeal with late stage bowel cancer and judging by the cover of her book, the analogy is the hurdles she had to jump to get the right treatment (many of you will relate to that). Another example I see is the race to claim a cancer is somehow ‘worse’ than other cancers, i.e. ‘my cancer is far worse than yours’. Ironically, although some cancers are almost certainly worse…

24 Oct 2024

By Ronny Allan

5 Comments

Pancreatic Cancer vs Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

AwarenessAdenocarcinoma, Aretha Franklin, Endocrine function (pancreas), Exocrine cells, Hormones, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, Pancreatic cancer, pNET

DisclaimerThis information is for education and reassurance only.It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Tumours arising in the pancreas can come from different cell types and behave in very different ways. Decisions about investigations, surgery, systemic therapy, surveillance, or symptom management must be made by your own specialist team, who understand your full medical history, imaging, pathology, and individual circumstances. Every patient’s situation is unique.The terms “pancreatic cancer” and “pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN)” describe biologically distinct diseases with different behaviours, treatments, and outcomes. The information in this article is designed to support understanding, not to…

01 Aug 2024

By Ronny Allan

2 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer: Glossary of Terms

Awareness, Clinical Trials and Research, Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, Survivorship, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Afinitor, Appendiceal NET, Carcinoid syndrome, Chemotherapy, Clinical trial, COVID-19, Diagnosis, Diarrhea, Diet, Everolimus, Flushing, Ga68 PET/CT, Gastric NET, Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (GEP-NET), Hormones, Immunotherapy, Incurable cancer, Lanreotide, Lung NETs, Lutathera, Malabsorption, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN), Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nutrition, Octreotide, Octreotide scan, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Paraganglioma, Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), Pheochromocytoma, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Serotonin, Small intestine NET (SI NET), Somatostatin analogues, Somatostatin receptors (SSTR), Surgery

Welcome to my Neuroendocrine Cancer terms and definitions list providing a source of meanings for acronyms and medical terms, all sourced from top Neuroendocrine Cancer sites. How to use this list: 1. If your term begins with an A, see the list of As etc. Ditto for B to Z. Select your term from the list, the definition will show along with any of my blogs where that term is mentioned – this adds context. . 2. Numerical terms are also listed. Please note I’m constantly working on the repository to clean up all definitions, adding and removing links where necessary, and…

18 Jul 2024

By Ronny Allan

17 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer is not a ‘type’ of another Cancer ….. PERIOD!

Awareness, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient AdvocacyAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Bowel cancer, Carcinoid tumour, Lung Cancer, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, Stomach cancer

I first published this blog post after the dust settled on the media coverage of the death and funeral of Neuroendocrine Cancer patient Aretha Franklin. I was saddened by the death of this icon of the music industry but more determined to speak out about the need for our community to review the strategy for how we explain the nomenclature of Neuroendocrine Cancer to outsiders including the media, and incredibly, including doctors. About 95% of the articles I read about Aretha Franklin stated she had Pancreatic Cancer. Only a few quoted her physician who clumsily said "Pancreatic Cancer of the…

02 Jun 2024

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

Ryan Gonzales – wrestling with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Cancer

Inspiration, Patient Advocacy, SurvivorshipPancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Whipple procedure

Great story from Ryan who was diagnosed with stage IV Pancreatic NET in 2022. Ryan is a wrestler and a wrestler coach. He's therefore used to facing tough situations. His podcast sponsor has used some fine words which I will leave you to read. I see many patients facing up to these situatons on a day to day basis but I think it's great that Ryan is telling his story to help others. Ryan is married with 4 children, so, like many of my readers, he has a lot to live for. I wish him the very best as he…

23 May 2024

By Ronny Allan

20 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 2 – Gastrointestinal Malabsorption

Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentB12, Bile acid diarrhea, Bile acid malabsorption, Bile acid sequestrant, Bile acids, Bile salt, Carcinoid syndrome, Digestive enzymes, Endocrine, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Gallbladder, Gut Flora, Hormones, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Lanreotide, Liver, Malabsorption, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Nutrition, Octreotide, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pernicious anaemia, Probiotic, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Side effect, Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Small intestine NET (SI NET), Somatostatin analogues, Steatorrhea, Surgery, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Water soluble vitamins

Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 2 – Gastrointestinal Malabsorption is the second article in the Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition series. In the first article, I focused on Vitamin and Mineral deficiency risks for patients and there is a big overlap with the subject of Gastrointestinal Malabsorption. Those who remember the content will have spotted the risks pertaining to the inability to absorb particular vitamins and minerals. This comes under the general heading of Malabsorption and in Neuroendocrine Cancer patients, this can be caused or exacerbated by one or more of a number of factors relating to their condition. It's also worth pointing out that…

28 Apr 2024

By Ronny Allan

34 Comments

Neuroendocrine – what’s that?

Awareness, Patient AdvocacyBowel cancer, Carcinoid syndrome, Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (GEP-NET), Hormones, Lung Cancer, NET syndromes, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, Quality of LIfe (QoL)

I once met some fellow cancer advocates and the conversation turned to what inspired us to ‘do what we do’. When it came to my turn as the only Neuroendocrine Cancer patient, I was already prepared to regurgitate my usual 'spiel'. As sometimes happens, a listener queried me with the words "Neuroendocrine - what's that?". Another focused on 'Neuro' enquiring whether my nervous system or my brain had somehow become cancerous. Deja vu - here we go again! Two days later, I was speaking to one of my online friends who was having similar problems explaining this cancer to family and…

26 Apr 2024

By Ronny Allan

11 Comments

The trouble with the NET (Part 2) – Alternative Therapies – what’s the harm?

Awareness, Diet and Nutrition, Patient Advocacy, Ronny Allan's "The Trouble with the NET Series", SurvivorshipAlternative medicine, Alternative therapies, Carcinoid syndrome, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, Quality of LIfe (QoL)

“But it works… I read it on the internet!” You may remember my article entitled The trouble with the NET (Part 1) which was a light-hearted but still serious discussion about the dangers of self-treatment on the internet. Linked to that blog was a very popular article written by the scientists at Cancer Research UK debunking some cancer myths which seem to regularly patrol the NET and social media. Many well meaning people will send you articles they saw on the 'NET' about this and that treatment which claims to cure cancer. They also post them on social media increasing…

23 Mar 2024

By Ronny Allan

32 Comments

The Human Anatomy of Neuroendocrine Cancer

AwarenessAretha Franklin, Bowel cancer, Lung Cancer, Misdiagnosis, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, Surgery

OPINION. Sometimes when I'm searching for cancer information, I'm presented with a 'picklist' of types which mostly tend to be anatomy based. I do find it annoying when I cannot find my own cancer on the list .....some respectable organisations are just not as up to date as they should be! Neuroendocrine Cancer patients and advocates then have to shout quite loud for recognition and understanding. One of the key facets of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) is that they are not tied to a particular part of the human anatomy. Unlike (say) lung cancer, where the primary is in the lung, or…

05 Aug 2023

By Ronny Allan

2 Comments

The Cancer Legacy of Steve Jobs?

Awareness, Clinical Trials and ResearchAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET)

Update June 2026. HistoSonics, the developer of the Edison® Histotripsy System and novel histotripsy therapy platforms, today announced the closing of a new financing round with participation from Reed Jobs and Yosemite, whose aim is to “make cancer non-lethal in our lifetime,” alongside several new strategic investors. Read more click hereClick here to read more about Histotripsy.Update February 2026. Today, Yosemite said that it had raised more than $200 million for a second fund that has a total targeted size of $350 million, with heavy-hitter investors that include biotech giant Amgen, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MIT and venture capitalist John Doerr. Powell…

03 May 2023

By Ronny Allan

3 Comments

Repeat after me: Maria Menounos has Neuroendocrine Cancer

AwarenessNeuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, pNET

Like many people from outside USA, I don't really know anything about Maria Menounos. For those in the same boat, let me confirm she is a very well-known personality in USA. A journalist, television presenter and actress. She has hosted Extra and E! News; she was a TV correspondent for Today, Access Hollywood, and co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece. She also co-created and is currently CEO of online podcast series network AfterBuzz TV. She is currently signed to WWE where she has served as an ambassador since 2013. She hosts the podcast 'Conversations with Maria Menounos'.…

23 Nov 2022

By Ronny Allan

6 Comments

My tribute to Wilko Johnson #NeuroendocrineCancer – Rock and Roll Wilko!

Awareness, Inspiration, Living with Neuroendocrine CancerMisdiagnosis, Neuroendocrine cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Surgery

BREAKING NEWS I recently blogged about a well-known BBC political reporter who has Neuroendocrine Cancer with a Lung Primary. However, in the usual media 'double speak' which can sometimes pervade the coverage of such events, he is said to have Lung Cancer. As I said in that article, sometimes with Neuroendocrine Cancer - the devil is in the detail and you just need to dig to find it. Annoying, we shouldn't need to dig as he doesn't have Lung Cancer. I wrote about this anatomical issue here. This is exactly what happened to Steve Jobs and Aretha Franklin. No sooner…

11 Oct 2022

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

New test of pancreatic cysts to help with cancer detection

Clinical Trials and Research, Patient Advocacy, TreatmentPancreatic cancer, Pancreatic cyst, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pancreatic pseudocyst

With NETs, particularly pancreatic NETs, due to a lack of efficient prognostic markers, it is difficult to identify which cases are more likely to metastasise than others. Identifying whether cysts will turn cancerous is also another area requiring a screening program as a standard of care to monitor. Molecular testing is advancing and this test I'm reporting here looks like good news in the case of assessing the risks of pancreatic cysts. Pancreatic cysts are common. For example, up to 15% of the U.S. population will develop a pancreatic cyst at some point in their lives. Most of these cysts…

10 Sep 2020

By Ronny Allan

4 Comments

“I’m vertical” – Steve Jobs announces to Apple staff after a liver transplant

Patient AdvocacyNeuroendocrine cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET)

Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on email Email A lot had been written about Steve Jobs, some good, some bad, some inaccurate - the latter is mostly about the cancer he had. I came across this clip published by an Apple Mac publication and it contained a video of Steve the day he returned to Apple after having a liver transplant and had recovered from the procedure. In it he said "I'm vertical" in classic Jobs language and positive outlook. Watch the clip here:https://youtu.be/BNv2lH225Ko The article is a…

16 Nov 2019

By Ronny Allan

9 Comments

Olivia Williams – Neuroendocrine Cancer (VIPoma)

AwarenessFunctional tumour, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), VIPoma

Well known UK actress Olivia Williams was diagnosed with a functioning pancreatic NET called a VIPoma in 2018. She played Bruce Willis’ wife in the blockbuster Sixth Sense in 1999. She is also known for her roles in TV dramas such as ITV’s The Halcyon and American science fiction thriller series Counterpart. And she was on the set in California when her biopsy result came though confirming the pancreatic NET. In 2022, she appeared in The Crown as Camilla Parker Bowles and in the past she had a cameo in Friends. The doctors, who I believe were from Cedars Sinai…

24 Aug 2019

By Ronny Allan

1 Comment

The Case of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg vs Cancer

AwarenessColon cancer, Lung Cancer, Neuroendocrine cancer, Pancreatic cancer

Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on email Email UPDATE 18th SEPTEMBER 2020RIP Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgUPDATE 17 JULY 2020Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Friday that she had had a recurrence of cancer but had been undergoing chemotherapy that had shown “positive results”. Justice Ginsburg, who is 87, said she had begun a course of chemotherapy on May 19, after a periodic scan in February followed by a biopsy revealed lesions on her liver. She also stated that "Immunotherapy" first essayed proved unsuccessful, but the chemotherapy course is yielding positive…

18 Jul 2019

By Ronny Allan

5 Comments

Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours – to cut or not to cut

TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, ATRX, DAXX, Liquid biopsy, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), pNET, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Surgery

Background I've written before about pancreatic NETs (pNETs), much of which has been on the awareness side of my advocacy work, particularly emphasising the differences with core Pancreatic Cancer (adenocarcinoma).Pancreatic NETs are quite difficult to diagnose and treat, some of that difficulty is due to the location of the pancreas and accessibility for surgeons and radiographers. It's not helped by the fact that most pNETs are non-functional, making diagnosis more difficult as there is little clinical suspicion to scan, but also results in more late diagnoses.Although biopsies are possible, mainly via endoscopic ultrasound or laparoscopy, they can still be difficult to…

03 Jan 2019

By Ronny Allan

1 Comment

Breath test with the goal of detecting multiple cancers – ready to start trials

Clinical Trials and ResearchDiagnosis, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Pancreatic cancer, Prostate Cancer, Stomach cancer

While it's a long way off becoming reality, this is quite an exciting clinical trial. I have no idea if it will pick up Neuroendocrine disease but initially, patients with suspected oesophageal and stomach cancers will be asked to try the test. Later it will be extended to include prostate, kidney, bladder, liver and pancreatic cancers. It's possible that Neuroendcorine tumours in these locations might be picked up or at least show up some abnormality that triggers further checks. The fact that Cancer Research UK is involved gives me some confidence as they tend to back the strong horses. I…

16 Aug 2018

By Ronny Allan

10 Comments

Aretha Franklin 1942-2018: Neuroendocrine Cancer

Awareness, Inspiration, Living with Neuroendocrine CancerAretha Franklin, National Cancer Institute, Pancreatic cancer

On 16th Aug 2018, Publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told The Associated Press through a family statement that Aretha Franklin passed at her home in Detroit. The statement said "Franklin's official cause of death was due to advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin's oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute" in Detroit. Clearly, he meant Neuroendocrine Cancer with a pancreatic primary. However, in the fast-moving social media world, this is what went out with the lazier writers and editors abbreviating it to just Pancreatic Cancer. All of these incorrect posts will now be embedded in…

11 Sep 2017

By Ronny Allan

7 Comments

Categories, tissues and primary sites – the lost awareness of Neuroendocrine Cancer

AwarenessAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Aretha Franklin, Bowel cancer, Carcinoid tumour, Colorectal cancer, Incurable cancer, Lung Cancer, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer

Background When you look at how cancer is classified and broken down, you can see why Neuroendocrine Neoplasm (the overarching term for Neuroendocrine Tumour and Neuroendocrine Carcinoma) often appears unlisted in certain websites and in certain clinical publications and press releases. Moreover, it robs awareness and funding for Neuroendocrine Cancer organisations, particularly when celebrities are involved in incorrect labelling. Below, I wanted to cover why that sometimes happens but also why that is undeservedly detrimental to Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness. Cancer Categories From a histological standpoint, there are hundreds of different cancers, which are grouped into six major categories: Carcinoma Sarcoma…

27 Jan 2017

By Ronny Allan

2 Comments

Endoscopy for NETs – taking the camera to the tumour

Awareness, Living with Neuroendocrine CancerAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Biopsy, Bronchoscopy, Camera pill, Capsule endoscopy, Carcinoid crisis, Carcinoid tumour, CLO test, Colonoscopy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), Endoscopy, Gastroscopy, Helicobacter pylori, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic cancer, Sigmoidoscopy, Surgery

Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on email Email An Endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using an instrument called an endoscope. This is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light source and camera at one end. Images of the inside of your body are relayed to a television screen. Endoscopes can be inserted into the body through a natural opening, such as the mouth and down the throat, or through the bottom. The mouth route is more accurately called a Gastroscopy…

05 Oct 2016

By Ronny Allan

20 Comments

Steve Jobs – the most famous Neuroendocrine Cancer Ambassador we NEVER had

Awareness, Diet and Nutrition, Inspiration, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentAlternative medicine, Diet, Glucagon, Glucagonoma, Hypoglycemia, Insulinoma, Liver metastases, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Nutrition, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET)

Steve Jobs died 5 Oct 2011. RIP Steve, you certainly made a difference to the world of technology and that is still being felt today. I have a number of google alerts setup and every day the emails arrive in my inbox. The longest email is always the Steve Jobs one, i.e. Steve Jobs is written about more than Neuroendocrine Cancer and other connected subjects. That's interesting because Neuroendocrine Cancer is the type Steve had, not Pancreatic as is frequently reported. There are huge differences between Pancreatic Cancer and Neuroendocrine Cancer with a pancreatic primary - click here to read…

13 Jun 2016

By Ronny Allan

4 Comments

Intra-Operative RadioTheraphy (IORT) for Neuroendocrine Cancer – new landmark treatment launch

Awareness, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Brain tumour, Breast cancer, Colon cancer, Colorectal cancer, ENETS, Head and Neck Cancer, Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), Lung Cancer, NET Centre of Excellence, Pancreatic cancer, PRRT, Surgery

New treatments seem to be appearing every month and that is good news for patients. I have a personal connection to this one though. In 2014, Chris and I walked along Hadrian's Wall, a 2,000-year-old World Heritage structure in Northern England. This was part therapy for me but also part fund-raising to help pay for this new treatment which launches today in Southampton General Hospital (UK) which was recently awarded the coveted title of European NET Centre of Excellence (along with Bournemouth and Portsmouth Hospitals). It is the first ever deployment of this type of treatment in UK and Chris and I were…

01 Dec 2014

By Ronny Allan

2 Comments

Tobacco and Cancer: A smoking gun?

Patient AdvocacyCancer causes, Pancreatic cancer

I've never smoked so I'm reasonably confident my own cancer experience is not related to this type of personal lifestyle. I did, however, grow up in a world where smoking was widespread and a generally accepted behaviour. We now know that smoking causes more than four in five cases of lung cancer. Lung cancer not only has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers, but is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Shockingly, most of these deaths are preventable, by giving up smoking in time or not starting at all. Smoking also increases the risk of at least 13 other…

09 May 2014

By Ronny Allan

1 Comment

Queen Mother of the Isle of Wight

Patient AdvocacyPancreatic cancer

Decided to do a one off today after reading a story published on 7 May on the PLANETS Charity Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/PLANETS-Charity/122088044556397?fref=ts The is a story about a lady who was faced with one of the most deadly cancers - Pancreatic Cancer, where the 5 year survival rate has not risen for the last 40 years (another story for another time). Young and fit people can struggle with this cancer and its treatment so it must be ultra tough at 83. Her attitude and strength of character in facing up to this terrible disease is very inspiring to me and an…

Tag: Pancreatic cancer