Question: I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and my oncologist called it a neuroendocrine tumor. What does that mean?
Answer: Neuroendocrine cells are like nerve cells, but they also release hormones into the body like cells of the endocrine system. A neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is a type of tumor that grows from neuroendocrine cells. These types of tumors can develop anywhere in the body, but most are found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and the lungs. Small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung NETs.
Most small cell lung cancer NETs are non-functional. This means the neuroendocrine cells may release a small number of hormones into the body and it doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. In rare cases, NETs, like small cell lung cancer, can become overactive and release large amounts of hormones into the body. This is called a functional NET and can lead to a group of symptoms called carcinoid syndrome. If you have questions or concerns about symptoms you’re having, it is important to talk to a member of your healthcare team.
Small cell lung cancer NETs can also be described as high- or low-grade tumors and poorly differentiated or well differentiated. The grade of the tumor describes how fast it grows and differentiation describes how much cancer cells look like normal cells. Small cell NETs are typically high grade and poorly differentiated, meaning they look less like healthy cells and tend to grow quickly.
Treatment for small cell lung cancer is the same regardless of whether NETs are present and may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery depending on your stage and other health needs. Treatment should include palliative care services to prevent and manage side effects. Studies show that palliative care improves quality of life and contributes to longer survival when it is continued throughout treatment.
Clinical trials are another treatment option to consider. Before a new drug is approved for use, it must pass through a strict testing process called a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a type of research that is done to study new cancer treatments to learn how well they work and how safe they are. The purpose is to know whether the new treatment is better than the current treatments. Learning about clinical trials early is important so you have plenty of time to decide whether one is right for you.
If you have questions about the information in this article or would like to learn more about your treatment options, ask your healthcare team, contact GO2’s HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436, or email support@go2.org.
More information on SCLC and treatments can be found here.
References
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/neuroendocrine-tumor
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/neuroendocrine-tumor-lung/introduction
Please note that the information included in any published answer is for educational pursuit only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult their healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Nothing from GO2 for Lung Cancer should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion.
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