Lost with no confirmation of NETs origin: Innumerable liver lesions

Posted by k8lyn23 @k8lyn23, Feb 13, 2023

Hi, my dad-active 63 year old kept complaining of boating and dull stomach pain. I am a nurse but am not very familiar with oncology specifics. CT and MRI scans later- mass-like lesion near pancreatic head also thickening in duodenal bulb(biopsied) and multiple lesions in liver (also biopsied)
Suspicious of stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Fast forward to pathology report- only thing I understood was the liver biopsy saying “metastatic high grade neuroendocrine cell carcinoma” -I know this is bad.
Now this is the kicker- it also says “from either the GI tract or pancreas”
We have the first meeting with the oncologist in two days to talk about everything. But in the mean time to keep myself busy I am trying to research and get educated in order to ask better questions.
I’m lost with the fact that they can’t confirm or deny the origin from the pathology? And with the origin being unconfirmed now does that affect treatment options?
Any similar experiences here? Thank you!

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

@barnett1766

I also had multiple small lesions in my liver and a few larger ones. I decided on SirSpheres Y90 embolization which did a great job on the small ones and reduced the larger ones. I did get radiational pneumonia from it though. They did microwave ablation on the larger ones later when my ileum primary was resected. A minute bowel leak kept me having recuring abdominal abscesses for the next year. From now on I will let one thing heal before having something else done.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing your experience and good advice. With my non functioning the only type of embolization I can have is bland where they block off blood supply to the tumors. Am hopeful too about both the freezing or heating technique not sure if an option for non functional though. Best of luck with your ongoing healing and appreciate your response.

REPLY
@firepowr

I do not have personal experience with those two chemo drugs. I am not an oncologist, but I can say my team also wanted to “go hard” at my cancer—thus, with IV chemo, in my case, every two weeks—due to aggressiveness. I also had a new CT scan every two months. PRRT is, as I understand it, one treatment every two months for four treatments (so, over 8 months), and I was told it’s not the best first option for aggressive cases, such as ours. My team also wanted to get it more “under control” and stable before moving to something like PRRT.
I’m so glad you have a plan set forth and I’m sending all the best thoughts and energy your way. Please continue to ask questions if you need!

Jump to this post

@firepowr if you don’t mind me asking, what have they said about yours that is considered aggressive? The Ki-67%? Well differentiated or not?
The approach they have with the chemo is treating it as a small cell lung cancer- even though the lungs are clear. I’m assuming it’s due to the cells that are expressed and how rapid growing they are?
Apparently G3(well differentiated- Ki-67: 70%)NETs originating in the small intestine and Mets to liver is even more rare and no “standard of treatment” found.
Feeling pretty defeated with the prognosis of less than 2years since study’s are limited. This forum gives a little hope to make it past that but have yet to read about situations as aggressive as this one

REPLY
@k8lyn23

@firepowr if you don’t mind me asking, what have they said about yours that is considered aggressive? The Ki-67%? Well differentiated or not?
The approach they have with the chemo is treating it as a small cell lung cancer- even though the lungs are clear. I’m assuming it’s due to the cells that are expressed and how rapid growing they are?
Apparently G3(well differentiated- Ki-67: 70%)NETs originating in the small intestine and Mets to liver is even more rare and no “standard of treatment” found.
Feeling pretty defeated with the prognosis of less than 2years since study’s are limited. This forum gives a little hope to make it past that but have yet to read about situations as aggressive as this one

Jump to this post

My understanding is a grade 3 of the lung is considered small cell or non small cell and should be treated as such; however in addition lectures from UK hospital net specialists said that can have two types at once regular net as well. Really need an expert to assist with proper diagnosis and treatment if they are two kinds. Of course not a doctor but in studying my own lung to liver net that appears to be a growing concensus. Take hope that if you can get the high grade treated you may also benefit from simultaneous if possible for the net in small intestine and liver. Liver mets are very common in neuroendocrine disease. So important to find the right specialists for this issue they call it heterogenous. Best wishes to you in keeping up your spirits. According to lectures on thr NETRF site they call neuroendocrine the upside down cancer as the primary is often small but mets can be large. So if your lung issue is a small grade 3 perhaps could be treated with truebeam radiation which is used in treating high grade. tumours in lung. Best of luck in this journey.

REPLY
@bluedane

Hi I was diagnosed in June of2021 with lung to liver net Ki67 1-5% with two grade 2 carcinoid in lung with large and 25 small lesions in my liver. Mine are non functioning so was told by a gruff specialist all the things that were off the table. I had to request if there was anything was told Affinitor and also chemo drug as second choice. This first doctor was very negative and unhelpful. Then went to Mayo treated more respectively which makes a huge difference. Also I had done about 1000 hours of research on nets and by now about 2000 hours. And attend the support group, exercise, counseling accupuncture and this group. I had continued to be asymptomatic as mine is non functioning. The afinitor worked for about a year with few to no side effects. Had to switch to Captem cocktail chemo pills 10/13/23 which caused fatigue some nausea and constipation it also seem to make things worse in the liver with new growth. My lungs are stable though and it has not spread beyond lung and liver so I feel the Afinitor worked for me. I have now requested a intervention radiology consult to occur this week My goal is hopefully to have bland embolization, or freezing or heating the liver tumors to decrease tumor load. My liver is working fine but if the load needs to be decreased and would like to get back on afinitor as I feel it did 80% of its job with stable lung and no other spread to rest of body except for increase in liver mets. I believe a nuanced approach is needed with this unique proliferation of cells. The most hopeful helpful discussion for me is the ABC.s of neuroendocrine cancer provided by expert doctors across the country. My question is has anyone had bland embolization or cryo ablation for liver mets and any side effects. Thank you and best to everyone,

Jump to this post

In reply to Blue Dane:
I was very recenty diagnosed with 1 NET in my liver and 1 NET my lung. I have had biopsies on both, It was determined that the NET on my liver can be removed by Microwave Ablation by Vascular Interventional Radiology and I will have this procedur done on March 10th.
I am so new to this that I don't always understand the lingo and what people are talkin about. Pease be patient with me. I will be having another (3rd) PET Scan on my Lung NET next Friday using some "special dye" for NETs.

REPLY
@k8lyn23

@firepowr if you don’t mind me asking, what have they said about yours that is considered aggressive? The Ki-67%? Well differentiated or not?
The approach they have with the chemo is treating it as a small cell lung cancer- even though the lungs are clear. I’m assuming it’s due to the cells that are expressed and how rapid growing they are?
Apparently G3(well differentiated- Ki-67: 70%)NETs originating in the small intestine and Mets to liver is even more rare and no “standard of treatment” found.
Feeling pretty defeated with the prognosis of less than 2years since study’s are limited. This forum gives a little hope to make it past that but have yet to read about situations as aggressive as this one

Jump to this post

To be honest, that’s just what the oncologists at Mayo said at the beginning. My Ki-67 numbers are variable from my biopsied tumor sites—I have tumors that are within all levels—grades 1, 2, and 3–so they are treating me according to the most aggressive grade 3 lesions. I was told I had the “best behaving” grade 3 because my tumors are well-differentiated. I hope this makes sense!

REPLY
@k8lyn23

Start of a new journey: Pathology report of liver biopsy indicating metastatic high grade neuroendocrine cell carcinoma. MRI showing innumerable liver lesions.
Still unclear of the origin- GI tract verses pancreas (where masses also found.) First oncologist appointment since new results this week to discuss future/plan.
Any suggestions on what treatment I should look out for or ask about to prepare questions for? Stance on chemo and affects of it on the quality of life since prognosis seems grim.
Thank you!

Jump to this post

The LACNET support group has a very interesting and supportive optimistic and helpful story the director of LACNET asked this person to post on youtube. She has Grade 3 and multiple liver mets and it,s on "Patient shares about living with high grade neuroendocrine cancer (LACNETS)". It has been two years and she is working and active and describes supports and activities she uses to live her best life. Found this presentation to be very uplifting just thought would share . She has bland embolization for her liver mets so was helpful in my case to know. Best wishes to all.

REPLY
@sueannsellers

In reply to Blue Dane:
I was very recenty diagnosed with 1 NET in my liver and 1 NET my lung. I have had biopsies on both, It was determined that the NET on my liver can be removed by Microwave Ablation by Vascular Interventional Radiology and I will have this procedur done on March 10th.
I am so new to this that I don't always understand the lingo and what people are talkin about. Pease be patient with me. I will be having another (3rd) PET Scan on my Lung NET next Friday using some "special dye" for NETs.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response and treatment info. It seems a good thing that you have one in lung and one in liver and they can zap out the liver one good. The nurse practitioner who first told me of my diagnosis was " you are lucky - if you have to have something this is the best kind to have because it is treated as a chronic manageable condition" her words have stuck with me thru this. Good luck on your journey.

REPLY
@barnett1766

I also had multiple small lesions in my liver and a few larger ones. I decided on SirSpheres Y90 embolization which did a great job on the small ones and reduced the larger ones. I did get radiational pneumonia from it though. They did microwave ablation on the larger ones later when my ileum primary was resected. A minute bowel leak kept me having recuring abdominal abscesses for the next year. From now on I will let one thing heal before having something else done.

Jump to this post

Hi An update it appears I can have the Y90 on my large tumor and bland embolization for the rest. Thank you for your response and feedback. Best of luck to you. Will be discussing tomorrow with consult. TY

REPLY
@bluedane

Hi I was diagnosed in June of2021 with lung to liver net Ki67 1-5% with two grade 2 carcinoid in lung with large and 25 small lesions in my liver. Mine are non functioning so was told by a gruff specialist all the things that were off the table. I had to request if there was anything was told Affinitor and also chemo drug as second choice. This first doctor was very negative and unhelpful. Then went to Mayo treated more respectively which makes a huge difference. Also I had done about 1000 hours of research on nets and by now about 2000 hours. And attend the support group, exercise, counseling accupuncture and this group. I had continued to be asymptomatic as mine is non functioning. The afinitor worked for about a year with few to no side effects. Had to switch to Captem cocktail chemo pills 10/13/23 which caused fatigue some nausea and constipation it also seem to make things worse in the liver with new growth. My lungs are stable though and it has not spread beyond lung and liver so I feel the Afinitor worked for me. I have now requested a intervention radiology consult to occur this week My goal is hopefully to have bland embolization, or freezing or heating the liver tumors to decrease tumor load. My liver is working fine but if the load needs to be decreased and would like to get back on afinitor as I feel it did 80% of its job with stable lung and no other spread to rest of body except for increase in liver mets. I believe a nuanced approach is needed with this unique proliferation of cells. The most hopeful helpful discussion for me is the ABC.s of neuroendocrine cancer provided by expert doctors across the country. My question is has anyone had bland embolization or cryo ablation for liver mets and any side effects. Thank you and best to everyone,

Jump to this post

Hello @bluedane and welcome to the NETs discussion on Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so glad that you were able to be seen at Mayo Clinic. It sounds like this was a better experience for you than that of the original doctor that you saw.

I have had three surgeries for NETs (over the last 20 years) in the duodenal bulb, with no apparent metastasis. I am also asymptomatic.

You were inquiring about anyone who has had "bland liver embolization." We do have other members who have discussed this procedure including @sturns
@sophiarose and @trivia. I hope that they will post with you about their experience with this treatment.

I'm glad that you have done a lot of research on this topic. NETs aren't something that come up in ordinary conversation, so it is important to be proactive and research as much as possible.

Has your medical team suggested bland liver embolization as the next step in your treatment?

REPLY
@bluedane

Hi I was diagnosed in June of2021 with lung to liver net Ki67 1-5% with two grade 2 carcinoid in lung with large and 25 small lesions in my liver. Mine are non functioning so was told by a gruff specialist all the things that were off the table. I had to request if there was anything was told Affinitor and also chemo drug as second choice. This first doctor was very negative and unhelpful. Then went to Mayo treated more respectively which makes a huge difference. Also I had done about 1000 hours of research on nets and by now about 2000 hours. And attend the support group, exercise, counseling accupuncture and this group. I had continued to be asymptomatic as mine is non functioning. The afinitor worked for about a year with few to no side effects. Had to switch to Captem cocktail chemo pills 10/13/23 which caused fatigue some nausea and constipation it also seem to make things worse in the liver with new growth. My lungs are stable though and it has not spread beyond lung and liver so I feel the Afinitor worked for me. I have now requested a intervention radiology consult to occur this week My goal is hopefully to have bland embolization, or freezing or heating the liver tumors to decrease tumor load. My liver is working fine but if the load needs to be decreased and would like to get back on afinitor as I feel it did 80% of its job with stable lung and no other spread to rest of body except for increase in liver mets. I believe a nuanced approach is needed with this unique proliferation of cells. The most hopeful helpful discussion for me is the ABC.s of neuroendocrine cancer provided by expert doctors across the country. My question is has anyone had bland embolization or cryo ablation for liver mets and any side effects. Thank you and best to everyone,

Jump to this post

@bluedane, I noticed that you wish to post a link to a video with your message. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Allow me to post it for you.

ABCs of Neuroendocrine Cancer: 2020 Update
from the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.