@vanhauen, Hello Nancy, and welcome to the NETs support group on Mayo Connect. I appreciate you sharing your journey with NETs here on Connect. Each person's NET experience is different, so it helps when we share our story. Coincidentally, I have had three surgeries for a NET in the duodenum bulb. So far, no evidence of metastasis, but I know my story is unique.
By the way, congratulations on your hole-in-one!
As I looked at your profile, I saw that you were diagnosed a year ago. It sounds like you have learned a lot about bone NETs. It is good to know that NETs of the bone do not usually cause fractures. That is an encouraging fact.
Since many of us, myself included, with a NET diagnosis never had any symptoms, I'm wondering how your NET diagnosis came about. Were you having specific symptoms that led to scans or other tests?
If you are comfortable sharing more, what type of treatments have you had for the liver NET?
Looking back, I had symptoms of severe diarrhea 5 years before diagnosis. Nightime diarrhea including incontinence. Went to GI digestive clinic. Blood tests negative for Celiac, colitis etc. but did have SIBO small intestine bacterial overgrowth. They treated me for that but never did an endoscopy. They told me I had Irritable bowel disease. My symptoms did lessen when I restarted my Omeprazole ( proto pump inhibitor). An ulcer was found in my small intestine (duodenum) during an endoscopy for unrelated reason. I wanted my esophagus checked before I continued on a medication for Osteopenia. Biopsy of ulcer was grade 3 neuroendocrine tumor. I was starting to have pain in my right side, just below rib cage. Right before the endoscopy I had CT scans and a HIDA scan of gallbladder. All negative. (My cancer does not show on CT Scan). MRI and dototate PET scan show Stage 4 metastasis to T-11 spine and small 1 cm or less lesions in my liver too many to count. Oncologist at MHealth Fairview started me on CAPTEM oral chemotherapy. And monthly Octrotide. Some shrinkage in liver after 3 months. Continued for total of 7 rounds when cancer remained the same. After 4 months of no chemo and just injections cancer has remained stable. Consult at Mayo In Rochester determined I have gastrinoma. Thus I need to be on proton pump inhibitor. Mayo would have suggested just injections and not the oral Chemo to start with. My cancer is well differentiated and so far hasn’t been as aggressive as a Grade 3 can be. I have my MRI’s at Mayo and am followed there and M Health Fairview. Hoping for continued stable cancer for as long as possible. Next treatment will probably be PRRT. I was told no surgery.