Possible NET with No Evidence of Tumor: Mediastinal Mass

Posted by megansims @megansims, Aug 4, 2019

Hello All! I have had flushing for several years with alcohol, stress, emotions, heat/exercise, and some other foods. I also have cyclical diarrhea. In the last year, I have also had nighttime awakenings with diarrhea, tachycardia, GERD, and feelings of anxiety/adrenaline rush. Last Fall I added palpitations, regular tachycardia, more flushing, dizziness, headaches, and EXTREME fatigue to my list. I am 43, mother of three youngins, have been super healthy prior, and was on no medications. I had a workup that included Urine 5-HIAA which came back high. I then had two more elevated urine 5-HIAA tests, three elevated Chromogranins (not on PPI's), and completely negative CT/MRI/Gallium PET/EGD/COlonoscopy. I have some lung nodules, and thyroid/parathyroid nodule, and an elevated PTH with normal calcium. No one seems to know what to do with me, My Endocrinologist at the U of MN is just suggesting 6 month follow-up. I have a referral to MAYO but am not sure how I am going to get there, find child care, etc. Wanted to say hello and see if any of you have similar experiences. I was able to speak with a NET specialist on the phone and he recommended a serum 5-hiaa, pancreastatin, and neurokinin A at a minimum. Hoping I can get a doc to order those. Really hoping to make it to Mayo in November.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) Support Group.

@avawein

Hi Teresa,

Thanks for following up. I have surgery scheduled for October 21st to have the liver tumors removed. My doctor put me on octreotide acetate (200 mcg) 3x/day to see if it would relieve my carcinoid syndrome symptoms. I felt great after the first injection - I believe it did help with my symptoms, but about 1.5 hours post injection I started having some pretty strong pain in my upper abdomen all the way around to my spine. I had my gall bladder removed 5 years ago but the pain felt just like previous gall bladder attacks. Unfortunately, I had to stop the octreotide and will discuss it with my doctor on Monday. Would be curious to know if others had a reaction like that to the octreotide.

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Hello @avawein

I know you were scheduled for liver surgery on 10/21. I hope that all went well.

Will you post an update when you feel better?

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@hopeful33250

Hello @avawein

I know you were scheduled for liver surgery on 10/21. I hope that all went well.

Will you post an update when you feel better?

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Hi Teresa,

The surgery went well. The surgeon wound up doing a resection on the tumor that wasn't as deep and an ablation on the deeper one as it was nearer some larger blood vessels. Another scan,blood work and tests coming in January.

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@avawein

Hi Teresa,

The surgery went well. The surgeon wound up doing a resection on the tumor that wasn't as deep and an ablation on the deeper one as it was nearer some larger blood vessels. Another scan,blood work and tests coming in January.

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How wonderful, @avawein ! I'm so pleased to hear that it went so well.

If you don't mind sharing more, how long was your hospital stay and how is your appetite and ability to eat?

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My hospital stay was only one night which was okay with me. A few days post-surgery I had strong food cravings but I’m pretty much back to a regular diet.

Saw my surgeon yesterday for the follow up visit and he asked how my symptoms were. That made me realize that I hadn’t had a flushing episode since the day after my surgery. I had been having 4-5 a day! That’s a good sign. Hopeful for good results after my next oncology appointment.

Thanks for your support!

Ava

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