Lost with no confirmation of NETs origin: Innumerable liver lesions
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.
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.
@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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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?
@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