I woke up on World Neuroendocrine Cancer Day
1 year after 2 x surgery - at a ball organised by my surgeon Macmillan Cancer Support featured this post CKN featured this post 5 years after 3 surgeries 10 years after surgery 14 years after first surgery It was 10th November 2010 just after midnight. I gradually woke up after a marathon 9-hour surgery - the first of what was to be several visits to an operating theatre. The last thing I remembered before going 'under' was the voices of the surgical staff. When I woke up, I remember it being dark and I appeared to be constrained and…
Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Part 4 – Amines: Food for Thought?
Reviewed and updated 23rd January 2024 Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Part 4 – Amines: Food for Thought? Background Nutrition is an important subject for many cancers, but it can be particularly important for many Neuroendocrine Cancer patients. When I started writing my nutrition series (listed below), I said that my intention is not to tell you what to eat, even though that might be a challenge for many, and this theme continues. The issue with Nutrition and Diet, in general, is that it's very individual and what works for one may not work for another. Often the the best diet…
Surgery – the gift that keeps on giving
I first wrote this article in December 2014. My thoughts went back to my first surgery in 2010 when I was discharged 4 weeks before Christmas.I had been diagnosed with metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer in July 2010 having been told it was incurable. However, with 'debulking' surgery, my Oncologist said my prognosis could be significantly improved. I now know from my own research that Neuroendocrine Tumours are one of a small number of cancers for which surgical debulking can confer some survival advantage. Another term used at the time was 'cytoreductive' surgery which means 'to control symptoms and improve survival by…
A spotlight on Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
What are Appendiceal NENsAppendiceal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) account for approximately 60% of all primary cancers in the appendix. The other main cancer types found in the appendix are regular adenocarcinomas (including signet ring cell and goblet cell) and mucinous neoplasms such as Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) or Low-Grade Mucinous Neoplasms (LAMD). Appendiceal neuroendocrine tumours (aNET) (i.e. well differentiated) account for 75% of all aNENs, are mostly indolent tumours treated effectively with simple appendectomy. In fact, most are incidentally found upon presentation of right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain in keeping with appendicitis. They are typically (but not exclusively) diagnosed in younger patients. Poorly differentiated…
20th November 2010 – feeling perkier
Every year I cast my mind back to this time in 2010. Diagnosed on 26th July that year, I was in hospital from 8th - 26th November, an extended period due to complications. At that point, I had been keeping my diagnosis within close family and friends and my manager at work. People at work and my wider list of friends were probably wondering what was going on with me. Cleary, I let my emotions slip by posting this on my personal Facebook profile on 20th November 2010. Perhaps this was my way of opening up. To be honest, the first…