Diagnosed with carcinoid tumor in the colon: Is this cancer?

Hi @kissoon22, welcome. This must all be so shocking and scary as you learn about your new diagnosis of carcinoid tumor in the colon. You're not alone. I have moved your post to the Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) support group.

To answer your question: Yes, carcinoid tumors are a type of slow-growing cancer that can arise in several places throughout your body. Carcinoid tumors, which are one subset of tumors called neuroendocrine tumors, usually begin in the digestive tract (stomach, appendix, small intestine, colon, rectum) or in the lungs.

In this group, you'll connect with other members who have the same or similar cancer in the digestive tract like @hopeful33250 @wagneriandreamer @char1962 and others.

You might also be interested in this related discussion:
- Newly diagnosed - neuroendocrine tumor in intestines https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/newly-diagnosed-6/

Surgery is usually the first treatment approach. Not everyone needs chemotherapy. When detected early, a carcinoid tumor may be removed completely using surgery. It sounds like that might be your situation, which is good. They will know more after surgery.

Do you know when you will be having surgery and what kind of surgery?

Hello @kissoon22,

I want to join Colleen, @colleenyoung, in welcoming you to Mayo Connect. I so agree that this diagnosis is a difficult one to get your head around. It is a rare type of cancer. and the treatment options tend to be different than other more traditional cancers.

I've had three surgeries for carcinoids (type of neuroendocrine tumor) in the upper digestive tract. Surgery was my only treatment as there did not seem to be any metastasis to other organs. My surgeries were years apart (2003, 2005 and 2016). As you can see, this is can be a slow growing cancer.

Since my last surgery, I have follow-up diagnostic tests of different types. If you are comfortable doing so, would you share more about how your carcinoid was diagnosed? What type of treatment is being suggested?

Hi thank you for sharing.. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago. After have some pain in my groin area and had to go to the emergency room. They did a CT scan and saw a mass in the colon . Cecum area . I did a endoscopy and colonoscopy. And it came back as Vance low grade .

Hi thank you for sharing
I have a lot of scan and other test to do and I meet with the surgeon next week .

Hi @kissoon22

If you have any other questions as you approach the appointment with the surgeon, please post them here.

For example, do you have a list of questions to ask the surgeon?

Yes .I will thank you !