Carcinoid Explained

This page was last updated Sunday July 22, 2007

The following information we have discovered by talking to doctors, other carcinoid sufferers and various websites and we've tried to use terms everyone will understand. We will be adding more details here. We have a lot of similar information about each of the topics and we're selecting the most accurate and understandable. Please let us know if we need to improve the information provided below (i.e. we've stuffed up (Michelle's fault probably) or it's newer). Please talk to your doctor for further information.

What is Carcinoid Cancer?

What is Carcinoid Syndrome?

What is a Carcinoid Crisis?

How is the Carcinoid Illness Detected/Diagnosed?

What are some of the Treatments?

What is Carcinoid Cancer?

Carcinoid Cancer is a small, slow growing tumour found mostly in the Gastrointestinal system, but can be in other parts of the body like the lungs. The best description for this is found on The Carcinoid Foundation website.

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What is Carcinoid Syndrome?

A person with a Carcinoid tumour and who is experiencing the following symptoms is said to have Carcinoid Syndrome. This is usually caused by the tumour excreting a hormone called serotonin.

	Flushing
	Diarrhea
	Heart Palpitations
	Shortness of Breath

Not everyone (only about 10%) who has a Carcinoid tumour has Carcinoid Syndrome.

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What is a Carcinoid Crisis?

To put simply - a really, really bad Carcinoid Syndrome experience that usually requires urgent medical attention.

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How is the Carcinoid illness detected/diagnosed?

A piece of you removed in surgery is tested in a pathology lab and has Carcinoid characteristics.

You have elevated test results for the following tests ordered by your doctor:

	5HIAA (24 Hour Urine Test) 5HIAA = 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid
	CgA (Blood Test) CgA = Chromogranin A
	Serotonin (Blood Test)
	Gastrin (Blood Test)
	Octreoscan (Nuclear Medicine scan with Octreotide over a 2 - 3 days) (There are other more specialised tests and I'll add these soon, as well as more descriptions.)

You have Carcinoid Syndrome symptoms.

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What are some of the treatments?

	Surgery
	Sandostatin
	Interferon
	Chemotherapy
	Diet
	Medications for pain (There are other more specialised treatments and I'll add these soon, as well as more descriptions.)

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