Treatment for neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) will depend on:
- type of cancer
- the stage of cancer
- which treatments the person chooses to have
Treatments may include:
- surgery
- drug therapy (chemotherapy)
- radiation therapy
- liver directed therapy
- radionuclide therapy
The diagnostic tests you have will help determine your treatments. Your healthcare team will discuss the treatment options with different specialists to make sure you are receiving the right care at the right time.
To learn more about types of NETs treatment, visit the Canadian Cancer Society.
Drug Therapy Information
You can learn more about specific cancer drugs using our patient information sheets. These provide information about cancer drug therapies, including what they are used for and how to manage side effects. To find patient information sheets, go to the Drugs page.
You can also visit About Chemotherapy for general information about cancer drug therapy.
Radionuclide Therapy
Some people with NETs may have a type of specialized therapy called radionuclide therapy. It may be recommended in these circumstances:
- The tumour cannot be removed with surgery
- Some cancer is left behind after surgery or other procedure to remove the tumour
- The cancer has spread (metastasized)
To learn more, see radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine tumours, or visit the Canadian Cancer Society.
Managing Symptoms and Side Effects
People with cancer may have symptoms related to their cancer or as a side effect of treatment.
Our symptom management guides explain:
- how to recognize symptoms
- what to do and what not to do
- when to contact the person’s healthcare team
The guides are available for patients and for healthcare providers. Each patient guide also comes with links to helpful resources like courses, books, videos and worksheets.
Our side effect information sheets offer tips for people who have side effects from chemotherapy treatment.
If you are a person with cancer, please remember that it is important to discuss any symptoms or concerns with your healthcare team.
To find symptom management guides and links, see Managing Symptoms, Side Effects & Well-Being
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are scientific studies that test the safety and effectiveness of a medical treatment. Find clinical trials in Canada:
Palliative Care
Palliative care supports people with life-threatening illness and their families. The goal of this care is to relieve suffering so people can have the best possible quality of life. Palliative care should start when a person is diagnosed with a serious illness.
To learn more, see Palliative Care.