Coping with emotions
How might NET affect your emotional well-being?
Being diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) can take a physical and emotional toll on those affected. It is completely normal to feel a range of strong emotions because NET often comes with many challenges that change everyday life. Sometimes these challenges are temporary, but some challenges may also be permanent. You may have experienced a long diagnostic journey or ongoing symptoms that are difficult to control. Daily tasks like washing, getting dressed or childcare may suddenly become difficult due to the cancer itself, cancer treatment or treatment side effects. Moreover, financial difficulties or workplace issues may arise.1
NET-related stressors can influence each other. For example, physical pain can affect mental health, such as fear or sadness, and emotional changes can influence or intensify the perception of pain.1
Living with NET can cause your emotions to be unpredictable, changing from day to day or week to week no matter whether you have just been diagnosed or have been living with NET for many years.
Patients with NET may experience a variety of different emotions whether it be upon diagnosis, during treatment or afterwards. These may include:

If you experience any of the feelings mentioned above or other strong emotions, please remember it is quite normal to go through this emotional rollercoaster when living with NET.5 However, you are not alone. According to a large study in Europe involving more than 4,000 participants with different types and stages of cancer, about a third of patients had some sort of serious emotional turmoil, with anxiety being the most common.6 In patients diagnosed with NET, two thirds reported that their disease had a negative impact on their emotional well-being.7
How to cope with and manage the emotional impact of NET?
If, after being diagnosed with NET, you have strong or overwhelming feelings, talking about how you feel with someone you trust can bring relief and may help you cope with your emotions.5 Sharing your thoughts may also help get rid of some tension and help you feel supported.2 However, some people prefer opening up to someone they don’t know as well, such as a doctor, nurse, or counsellor.5 Take a look at “Where to get support” and contact your NET care team – they may be able to help you.
When living with NET, being willing to accept help and rely on a supportive network is another crucial step towards emotional resilience and recovery. Allowing others to help you on your journey ahead both practically and emotionally can foster a sense of community and understanding, and ultimately alleviate feelings of isolation. Accepting help from family and friends can have a positive impact on your emotional well-being and provide you with strength and hope to navigate the challenges associated with NET.8
When you receive a tough diagnosis, like NET, it can be hard to rid yourself of negative emotions or the thought that something isn’t right. During these times, knowing that many people with serious diseases have those same feelings can help.1 Try not to ignore your feelings. It is important to accept and acknowledge them. Try to focus on moving forward. Whenever possible, concentrate on the positive aspects of life and discover what makes you feel better.9 Techniques such as mindfulness can be a valuable tool. Overall, accepting and acknowledging your emotions may be an ongoing process that can take some time.
What therapeutic options are available?
If you find that your emotional stress becomes overwhelming, you should not be ashamed to reach out for professional help or counselling to better cope with the challenges you face. There are a number of therapeutic options available for patients with NET. However, the most suitable one for you depends on your individual preferences and needs.1
For example, individual, couple or group psychotherapy counselling sessions offer the opportunity to educate, address and work through the various concerns patients with cancer often have.1 They aim to help patients gain a better understanding of their disease and situation, enhance their problem-solving skills, foster motivation for self-care activities, and improve overall well-being and quality of life.10 Creative or art therapy, as well as relaxation and imagination exercises, can also play an important role in psycho-oncological therapy, as they can be beneficial in addressing disease-related distress and anxiety, as well as in coping with the disease itself.1 Today, E-health or digital programs are sometimes used as a supplement to conventional therapy methods.1
If you want to learn more about receiving psychological support, take a look at our section “Where to get support”.
Tips for self-care and emotional well-being
In addition to professional support and counselling, there are several things you can do on your own to help manage stress, positively influence your mood and promote emotional well-being while living with NET:

References
Leitlinienprogramm Onkologie: Patientenleitlinie Psychoonkologie. Available at: https://www.leitlinienprogramm-onkologie.de/patientenleitlinien/psychoonkologie. Accessed May 13, 2024.
Emotions and Cancer. National Cancer Institute (NCI). 2014. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings. Accessed May 13, 2024.
Distress. American Cancer Society. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/emotional-mood-changes/distress.html. Accessed May 13, 2024.
Okeke B., et al. The relationship of social determinants and distress in newly diagnosed cancer patients. Sci Rep 2023;13:2153.
Cancer and your emotions. Macmillan Cancer Support. Available at: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/coping-with-treatment/cancer-and-your-emotions. Accessed May 13, 2024.
Mehnert A., et al. Four-week prevalence of mental disorders in patients with cancer across major tumor entities. J Clin Oncol Off J Am Soc Clin Oncol 2014;32:3540–3546.
Singh S., et al. Patient-Reported Burden of a Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Diagnosis: Results From the First Global Survey of Patients With NETs. J Glob Oncol 2016;3:43–53.
Taking Time: Support for People with Cancer. National Cancer Institute (NCI). 2019. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/taking-time. Accessed November 8, 2024.
The emotions of living with neuroendocrine tumors. Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation. Available at: https://netrf.org/old-for-patients/living-with-nets/emotions/. Accessed November 8, 2024.
Üzüm G., et al. The effects of psychoeducation on problem solving skills of cancer patients. J Psy Nurs 2019;10:75–81.
Lin J., et al. The effects of art-making intervention on mind-body and quality of life in adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2024;32(3):186.
Virtual Patient Handbook. Neuroendocrine Cancer UK. 2023. Available at: https://www.neuroendocrinecancer.org.uk/neuroendocrine-cancer/virtual-handbook/. Accessed November 8, 2024