Outcomes will be better with new cancer treatment here

THE ESTABLISHMENT of specialist centres in Ireland to provide treatment for neuroendocrine tumours will result in better outcomes for patients suffering from this form of cancer, a world expert in the condition told a symposium in Cork at the weekend.

Dr Dan Granberg of the Department of Endocrine Oncology at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden said his advice for anyone diagnosed with a NET is to seek treatment from physicians specialising and interested in the area.

Dr Granberg said that the establishment of specialist centres, which has begun in Ireland, will be a major advance for those suffering with the illness here, as cancers that arise from cells in the endocrine or nervous systems are different to most other forms of the disease.

Dr Granberg was speaking at a symposium on NETs at UCC organised by Mercy University Hospital consultant surgeon Criostóir OSúilleabháin and medical oncologist Dr Derek Power. It was attended by about 20 Irish specialists, 20 international experts and 160 delegates.

Neuroendocrine, or carcinoid, tumours affect the pancreas, the appendix or the small bowel and, according to Dr Power, it is estimated that there are about 250 to 300 new cases of the disease in Ireland each year, with 3,000 to 4,000 people having the illness here at any one time.

Many people have a misconception that NETS, particularly of the pancreas, are fatal because of media reporting of high-profile cases such as US actor Patrick Swayze and the late minister for finance, Brian Lenihan, he said.

Yet Mr Swayze and Mr Lenihan had pancreatic adenocarcinoma which is a different type of cancer with shorter survival periods, unlike Steve Jobs who was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour of the pancreas in 2004 and lived for seven years.

“People can do much better with neuroendocrine tumours in terms of survival and can even be cured especially if the cancer is diagnosed early. Presenting symptoms can vary . . . in fact many patients may have a neuroendocrine tumour diagnosed whilst being investigated for something entirely different.

“Symptoms may be attributable to hormone secretion from the tumour and can include abdominal pain, elevated blood sugar levels or changes in the bowel movements. It is very important that patients with these or other symptoms get themselves checked out.”

Among those living with a NET is RTE’s Northern Editor, Tommie Gorman, who spoke of his treatment at Uppsala after the discovery of a tumour in 1994 and how he returns there regularly for radiofrequency ablation.

Mr Gorman advised anyone diagnosed with a NET to go to a centre where there are good lines of communications between specialists involved in the treatment.

Dr Power said the aim in Ireland is to set up a national database relating to NETS to understand better how to treat it.