The Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation Podcast - Top 10 FAQs with neuroendocrine cancer experts

NET dietician Sina Teskey from the Medical College of Wisconsin answers common questions about diet and nutrition raised among NET patients and caregivers. She addresses special diets, food restrictions, and whether sugar “feeds” cancer. Sina also speaks to diarrhea, and digestive enzymes and shares tips on how to maintain nutrition and weight. MEET SINA TESKEY, RD, CD Sina Teskey, RD, CD received...

In this special episode, Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) Medical oncologist, Dr. Guillaume (Will) Pegna, recaps the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) 2023 Multidisciplinary NET Medical Symposium. He shares the latest developments in NET research and medical advances from the conference and discusses why they matter to the NET patient community. MEET DR. GUILLAUME...

What do you call NETs in the liver? How often do NETs spread? What causes NETs to spread? How do you determine if surgery is an option? Dr. Xavier Keutgen from University of Chicago brings clarity to NET tumors found in the liver and describes how surgery fits in with other treatments for metastatic NETs. ABOUT DR. XAVIER KEUTGEN Xavier M. Keutgen MD is a board-certified, double-fellowship trained...

What are lung NETs? What is DIPNECH? How is lung NET similar or different from lung cancer? Dr. Vineeth Sukrithan from Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center gives a comprehensive overview of lung NET and DIPNECH, including the work-up and treatment options. He also discusses open clinical trials and exciting advances in lung NET research on the horizon. For more information, visit LACN...

What are Grade 3 Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC)? What makes NEC unique? Can a NET transform to NEC? Dr Nitja Raj from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City explains NEC tumor biology and how it guides treatment strategy. She also discusses current clinical trials and research. For more information, visit LACNETS.org/podcast/24.  For more information, visit N...

What are grade 3 NETs and how is it different from grade 3 NEC and other types of NETs? Dr. Mohamad (Bassam) Sonbol from Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, enlightens us on this fairly new entity, including treatment options, treatment sequencing and clinical trials. For more information, visit LACNETS.org/podcast/24.  For more information, visit NCF.net . 

What are Hindgut NETs (distal colon and rectum), and how are they treated? How is rectal NET different from rectal cancer? What makes appendiceal NETs difficult to diagnose? Dr. Hagen Kennecke from Providence Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon, shares insights on the diagnosis and management of Hindgut NETs and appendix NET. For more information, visit LACNETS.org/podcast23 for the transcript an...

What is the difference between Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (PNET) and Pancreatic Cancer? Where exactly is the pancreas located and why is the tumor location important? NET Oncologist Dr. Jennifer Chan from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute takes us through how some treatments, imaging and blood work are unique to PNETs. She also expounds on several ongoing and active trials. For more information, v...

How are small bowel NETs diagnosed, treated, and monitored? How is it different from other types of NETs? What are some exciting new treatments for small bowel NETs? NET oncologist, Dr. David Zhen of Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle answers 10 common questions about small bowel NETs. Visit LACNETS.org/podcast21 for the transcript and resources.  For more information, visit NCF.net . 

 Gastroenterologist and Neuroendocrinologist Dr. David C. Metz discusses important concepts in Gastric NET, Gastrinomas and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, including detection, treatments, associated risks and monitoring. He also lends valuable insight on ulcers, MEN and proton pump inhibitors. Visit LACNETS.org/podcast20 for the transcript and resources.  For more information, visit NCF.net . 

Take a glimpse through the microscope and learn how pathology determines your NET diagnosis and guides treatment. How does one interpret differing Ki-67 results from the same specimen? Why might a patient have two different Ki-67 results from different specimens? How does pathology distinguish G3 well-differentiated NET from NEC? How does pathology help with NET tumors of unknown origin? NET patho...

What are the common mental health issues associated with NET? How can they be managed? How does NET impact young adults, NET patients and children of NET patients?   Health psychologist Dr. Kersting of the Medical College of Wisconsin, elaborates on mental health challenges facing NET patients and their loved ones. Hear coping strategies for anxiety, eating and sleeping difficulties, fatigue and d...

 How do surgeons decide the type, extent, and approach of NET surgery? NET surgeon Dr. Alexandra Gangi of Cedars-Sinai answers 10 common questions about what to expect before, during, and after NET surgery. Gain insight on preparing for surgery and what is important for your surgeon to know about your recovery goals. Dr. Gangi’s comprehensive approach illustrates why surgeons are an integral part...

In this special episode, Dr. Will Pegna shares 10 new and exciting discoveries from the 2022 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Multidisciplinary NET Medical Symposium. Each year, hundreds of medical professionals gather to share the latest in NET research and medical advances. LACNETS and Dr. Pegna discuss the Symposium highlights and why they matter to the NET community.  For m...

What is psycho-oncology and how can it benefit those living with NET? Psychiatrist Dr. Mona Mojtahedzadeh, MD of Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology discusses whole-person care for cancer patients and caregivers. From “scanxiety” to sleep hygiene, she acknowledges the range of challenges of living with cancer and shares solutions to improve mental well-being and overall health. Listen...

What is palliative care? How does it differ from hospice? What advice do you have for NET caregivers?  Trained Hospice & Palliative Medicine Physician Dr. Chandana Banerjee of City of Hope addresses ten common questions about palliative care. Listen now! For more information, visit NCF.net . 

Is it okay for NET patients to take “statin” medications to lower cholesterol or SSRI medication for depression? How often should full body scans be done? NET oncologist Dr. Jun Gong of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center addresses ten common questions you might ask your NET oncologist along your NET journey. Listen now! For more information, visit NCF.net . 

In honor of Pheo Para Awareness Week, NET endocrinologist and medical oncologist Dr. Jaydira Del Rivero of the National Cancer Institute answers ten common questions about pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). Dr. Del Rivero defines PPGL and describes the unique symptoms, genetic testing, and treatment options for PPGL. Listen now! Additional PPGL resources can be found here: www.lacnets.org/...

How do you understand your pathology report? What is tumor grade, differentiation, mitotic index, and ki67? How do you get a second opinion on your pathology?  NET expert and pathologist Dr. Sue Chang of City of Hope answers ten common questions about pathology for neuroendocrine tumors. Dr. Chang defines important keywords to help you understand your pathology report which is instrumental in guid...

How can patients make decisions about where, when, and what kind of PRRT to receive? How does PRRT in the USA differ from other parts of the world? Why does each institution have different post-PRRT radiation safety precautions? What is the patient experience with traveling after PRRT? Internationally recognized patient advocate and President of NorCal CarciNET Community, Josh Mailman, answers ten...

Who is eligible for PRRT? What are the side effects? Should somatostatin analogues be continued? Can PRRT be repeated when there is disease progression?  NET expert and Nuclear Medicine Physician Dr. Martin Auerbach of UCLA Health answers 10 common questions about the decision-making process of PRRT.  Dr. Auerbach addresses how to manage side effects, carcinoid crisis, labs, and post-PRRT imaging....

Curious about PRRT? Wondering what a PRRT day looks like, what side effects you might experience, and what precautions you should take? NET expert and Administrative Nurse Lindy Gardner of UCLA Health answers 10 common questions about the before, during and after of PRRT. Lindy explains how to prepare for your treatment day, what to expect on the day of the treatment, and radiation precautions fol...

Confused about scans? NET expert Dr Gary Ulaner answers the top 10 questions about imaging for NETs. Dual board-certified in radiology and nuclear medicine, Dr. Ulaner explains different scans used in NET imaging including functional imaging scans such as Gallium-68 DOTATATE, Copper-64 DOTATATE, and FDG PET scans and anatomical scans such as MRI and CT scans. He addresses common questions about ra...

How do NET experts decide what treatments are right for you? How do I learn about current clinical trials?  In our sixth episode, NET expert and medical oncologist Dr. Daneng (Dan) Li of City of Hope answers 10 common questions about decision-making for NETs including finding the primary tumor site, bone mets, tumor grades, and the role of adjuvant therapy. Listen now! For more information, visit...

What are the current treatment options for NETs? How do I know what treatments I should be on?   In our fifth episode, NET expert and Medical Oncologist Dr. Randy Hecht of UCLA Health answers ten common questions about current NET treatment options (including lanreotide, octreotide, everolimus, and PRRT), as well as future treatment options. Listen now! For more information, visit NCF.net .