@anasashesh87
I am only speaking from personal experience. cancer. Long before anything turned up on scans, and with no other testing being done, I had symptoms as you described. I had two other types of primary cancer before. Both had taken me by surprise. The third time was different I did not know how to describe what I felt that some type of cancer was floating around in there it just had not landed yet.. Since that time, I have heard other NET patients sensing (from symptoms) when a recurrence is coming. Here are some AI mentioned resources which describe this phenomena:
"While most medical resources focus on tumors once they are visible, you can find patient-friendly information about "pre-tumor" states—medically known as hyperplasia or precursor lesions—through specialized advocacy and research organizations.
Resources for Understanding Pre-Tumor States
The "Midway" Growth Concept: The Carcinoid Cancer Foundation explains neuroendocrine growths as often being "midway" between benign and malignant, describing them as "cancers in slow motion" where cells grow abnormally for years before becoming dangerous.
Stomach & Lung Precursors: The Cancer Precursor Project provides a simplified summary of known precursor lesions, specifically discussing ECL cell hyperplasia in the stomach and DIPNECH in the lungs as states that exist before a formal tumor diagnosis.
The 0.5 mm Threshold: The College of American Pathologists defines the literal line between a "pre-tumor" and a "tumor": any abnormal cell cluster smaller than 0.5 mm is officially classified as a precursor (hyperplasia or dysplasia) rather than a neuroendocrine tumor.
Hereditary Patterns: For those with genetic risks, the UCSF Neuroendocrine Center discusses how certain inherited mutations cause a predictable sequence where cells change abnormally and multiply long before they form a detectable mass.
Key Patient Guides
For a comprehensive overview written for non-doctors, these organizations offer the best downloadable guides:
Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF): Offers a "Patient and Family Guide" that covers the biology of how these cells begin to grow.
NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Explains how neuroendocrine cells act as a "bridge" between systems and how they transition into tumors. "