Carcinoid tumors are uncommon, slow-growing tumors that may come up in a number of locations all through the physique. Carcinoid tumors are a part of a subset of tumors referred to as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that normally start within the digestive tract (abdomen, appendix, small gut, duodenum, colon, rectum) or within the lungs. In some circumstances, carcinoid tumors can start in different elements of the physique, such because the testicles or ovaries.
Whereas carcinoid tumors are cancerous, they’re distinctive in that they’re thought of to be “most cancers in sluggish movement.” In some circumstances, carcinoid tumors could metastasize (unfold all through the physique). When you’ve got a carcinoid tumor, you might have it for years and by no means understand it.
Whereas there’s at the moment no remedy for carcinoid tumors, early detection yields a promising prognosis and survival fee (about 97% if the most cancers stays within the organ wherein it began). Fortuitously, there are a lot of out there remedies for carcinoid tumors.
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Dwelling Cures and Way of life
Speak to your physician about self-care measures which will enhance your indicators and signs. Self-care measures cannot change remedy of carcinoid tumors, however they could complement it.
Keep away from Stress
A most cancers prognosis is usually one of the crucial irritating experiences of an individual’s life. Dealing with most cancers can develop into more difficult with added stress from work, household, or monetary considerations. On a regular basis stress may also make dealing with a most cancers prognosis harder.
Though stress has not been proven to trigger most cancers, persistent stress could weaken the immune system, inflicting different well being issues and lowering emotions of well-being. To mitigate stress, find time for your self to do stuff you get pleasure from, and lean in your family members while you want help.
Get Sufficient Sleep
Sleep is crucial to assist the physique keep wholesome and heal. Attempt to get seven or extra hours of sleep every evening. Naps in the course of the day may also assist. In case you are having problem sleeping, speak along with your well being care staff about methods to handle.
Consuming Effectively
Consuming nicely means consuming quite a lot of meals to get the vitamins your physique must struggle most cancers. These vitamins embody proteins, fat, carbohydrates, water, nutritional vitamins, and minerals and may help as follows:
- Proteins: When your physique doesn’t get sufficient protein, it might break down muscle to make use of as gasoline. This makes it take longer to get well from sickness and may decrease resistance to an infection. After surgical procedure, chemotherapy, or radiation remedy, further protein is normally wanted to heal tissues and assist struggle an infection. Good sources of protein embody fish, poultry, eggs, low-fat dairy merchandise, nuts and nut butters, dried beans, peas and lentils, and soy meals.
- Fat: Fat and oils are necessary sources of vitality for the physique. The physique breaks down fat and makes use of them to retailer vitality, insulate physique tissues, and transport some forms of nutritional vitamins by way of the blood. Wholesome sources of fat embody seafood, safflower, sunflower, corn, and flaxseed oils.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are the physique’s main supply of vitality. Carbohydrates give the physique the gasoline it wants for bodily exercise and correct organ perform. One of the best sources of carbohydrates are fruits, greens, and complete grains.
- Water: All physique cells want water to perform. In case your physique does not get sufficient fluids or for those who lose fluids by way of vomiting or diarrhea, you’ll be able to develop into dehydrated. Water can also be important for eradicating toxins within the physique and serving to the immune system perform correctly.
- Vitamins and minerals: Malnutrition is widespread in most cancers sufferers. It’s estimated that as much as 40% of individuals with gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors endure from it. Your physique wants nutritional vitamins and minerals to assist it perform correctly and use the vitality (energy) in meals. Sadly, nutritional vitamins and minerals may counteract the results of chemotherapy or radiation remedy. As such, ask your oncologist earlier than you are taking any kind of complement.
Dietary Complement Security Issues
Many individuals consider {that a} capsule or complement they discover in shops is secure and it really works. Nonetheless, this is not all the time true. The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has guidelines to assist make sure that dietary supplements comprise what their labels declare they do, however the complement’s security and its results on the physique usually are not addressed by any FDA guidelines. Because of this unknown and probably harmful unwanted side effects can happen when dietary supplements work together with most cancers therapies and medicines.
It’s additionally been proven that many natural merchandise aren’t what the label says they’re. Some merchandise don’t comprise any of the herb they’re speculated to. Some could comprise probably dangerous medication, components, or contaminants that aren’t listed on the label. This implies there’s no certain approach to know if a complement is secure or the way it will have an effect on your physique.
In the event you’re pondering of taking dietary supplements or natural merchandise, seek the advice of your physician to weigh the advantages of every remedy possibility towards the potential dangers and unwanted side effects.
Prescriptions
Systemic remedy is the usage of treatment to destroy most cancers cells. One of these treatment can attain most cancers cells all through the physique. Medicines may help sluggish the expansion of tumors and ease the signs of carcinoid tumors and carcinoid syndrome, which is a extra superior stage of the illness.
Your physician could provide remedy choices and proposals relying on a number of elements, together with tumor location (the remedy for lung carcinoid tumors could differ from gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors), the stage and grade of most cancers, potential unwanted side effects, and general well being. These remedies embody chemotherapy, somatostatin analogs, surgical procedure, and liver remedy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a remedy that makes use of sturdy medication to kill tumor cells. It may be given by way of a vein in your arm or taken as a capsule. Sadly, carcinoid tumors don’t normally reply nicely to chemotherapy. As such, it’s usually used for tumors which have unfold to different organs, are inflicting extreme signs, or can’t be eliminated with surgical procedure.
Somatostatin Analogs
Somatostatin is a hormone made naturally within the physique. Some neuroendocrine tumors make massive quantities of serotonin that result in uncomfortable signs within the physique. Many somatostatin analogs are used to deal with carcinoid syndrome, together with:
- Sandostatin (octreotide): That is the commonest drug used to deal with carcinoid tumors. It’s injected below the pores and skin, right into a muscle, or right into a vein. It’s just like a hormone that happens naturally within the physique. Sandostatin may help relieve the flushing (a reddening of the pores and skin as a result of widening of the capillaries) and diarrhea attributable to carcinoid syndrome, and sluggish tumor development.
- Somatuline (lanreotide): This drug is just like Sandostatin. It’s injected below the pores and skin as soon as a month. It could be given by your physician or nurse, or you might discover ways to give the injection at house.
- Xermelo (telotristat): This drug is used together with a somatostatin analog (Sandostatin or Somatuline) to assist management carcinoid syndrome diarrhea. Authorized by the FDA, Xermelo is given by mouth as a capsule or pill to inhibit the manufacturing of serotonin by carcinoid tumors.
Widespread unwanted side effects from these drugs could embody ache on the injection web site (Somatuline), abdomen cramps, nausea, vomiting, complications, dizziness, and fatigue.
Surgical procedures and Specialist-Pushed Procedures
If small carcinoid tumors haven’t unfold but, the most effective remedy is whole surgical procedure wherein a complete tumor is eliminated. Nonetheless, if the tumor has develop into too large or has metastasized, different remedies which might be out there embody:
Partial Surgical procedure (Debulking)
Full elimination of carcinoid tumors might not be potential in the event that they develop into superior. Partial surgical procedure could also be carried out by surgeons to try to take away as a lot of the tumor as potential (a course of referred to as debulking). Eradicating a part of a tumor may help management signs and cease development of most cancers cells.
Liver Remedy
If carcinoid tumors have metastasized, they typically unfold to the liver. A typical liver remedy is radiofrequency ablation, which delivers warmth remedies that trigger carcinoid tumor cells within the liver to die. One other remedy is cryoablation, which makes use of cycles of freezing and thawing to kill most cancers cells.
Complementary and Various Medication (CAM)
Complementary and different medication (CAM) is the time period for medical merchandise and practices that aren’t a part of commonplace medical care. Utilizing CAM to deal with carcinoid tumors stays unclear, as there’s little proof to counsel that any of those remedies can remedy most cancers or sluggish its development. Nonetheless, there’s constructive proof that a few of these could assist folks deal with the signs of most cancers and most cancers remedies.
Examples of CAM therapies embody:
- Acupuncture
- Therapeutic massage remedy
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Tai chi
- Pet remedy
- Music remedy
- Artwork remedy
Examples of CAM merchandise embody:
- Botanicals and herbs: Cranberry, noticed palmetto, soy, echinacea, ginkgo, and Saint-John’s-wort
- Dietary dietary supplements: Multivitamins, garlic tablets, fish oil capsules, probiotics, and pure weight-loss drugs
You will need to word once more that no different remedies have been discovered to be efficient in treating most cancers straight.
CAM Merchandise
CAM merchandise wouldn’t have to be permitted by the FDA earlier than being bought to the general public. Additionally, a prescription is not wanted to purchase them. All the time seek the advice of your physician earlier than deciding to take CAM merchandise to enhance most cancers signs or general well being.
Abstract
There are a lot of remedy choices for carcinoid tumors. These embody prescription remedies similar to chemotherapy and somatostatin analogs, in addition to procedures like surgical procedure. Liver remedies can be found if the tumor has unfold to the liver, a standard place for carcinoid tumors to metastasize.
Along with these conventional remedy strategies, life-style habits like consuming nicely, getting sufficient sleep, and avoiding stress can all assist with preventing most cancers. Whereas researchers haven’t discovered another remedy for carcinoid tumors, some merchandise and practices have helped sufferers discover ache aid and cut back stress.
A Phrase From Verywell
With so many most cancers remedies out there, it may be difficult to decide on the remedies which might be greatest for you. Have open and trustworthy conversations with your doctor about your choices, and contemplate searching for help from others who’re dealing with an analogous prognosis, both in your neighborhood or on-line. They’ll share their expertise with numerous remedies and supply psychological help to mitigate concern and stress.
Most significantly, cling on to hope. Most cancers remedies—and survival charges—are bettering. It is estimated that there are 15 million most cancers survivors in the US alone, and that quantity is rising. Not solely are extra folks surviving most cancers, however many are thriving, with a brand new sense of function and appreciation of life after their illness.
