What to expect
Every NET is different. Therefore, many patients are presented with a confusing picture of NETs. NETs are an unusual type of cancer, so many doctors may not have seen a patient with NET before and may not know how to manage this type of cancer. This time can be challenging. You may feel uncomfortable asking a NET specialist for a second opinion. However, doctors are usually aware that deciding on a clinically suitable treatment plan for each tumor can be very difficult.
Patients with NETs should have access to specialized neuroendocrine multidisciplinary teams to ensure they are being managed adequately and receiving the best possible treatments. NET management is patient-specific and varies according to the patient’s medical history and type of NET. Several studies have demonstrated that NET patient care and long-term outcomes improve when managed by multidisciplinary teams of specialists who understand these types of tumors.1 As such, international guidelines recommend that patients seek treatment by NET-dedicated multidisciplinary teams, even if specialized centers may not be the most convenient or the closest to their home. As shown in the figure below, these teams may comprise many different kinds of specialists, including oncologists, endocrinologists, pathologists, surgeons, radiologists and more
