About NCAN

 

The Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Neuroendocrine Cancer, providing support for caregivers and people with NETs, and funding for NET cancer research. Since 2003, it has been our mission, or as we like to say, our passion, to educate and support the NET community as a whole.

 

NCAN has produced over 70 conferences both national and regional around the country. These events have been beneficial for thousands of patients and their families, keeping them up-to-date on information impacting the decisions made regarding their care, including new diagnostics and treatments available and upcoming.

 

NCAN has been a proud member of The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society since 2006, providing funding and support. Maryann Wahmann has been serving on the NANETS advisory board since 2009, now also serving on the advisory board of The Healing NET Foundation!

NCAN exhibits at medical trade shows and medical meetings such as NANETS, ASCO, ASCO GI, Digestive Disease Week, Interventional Radiology, The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, & local fairs. We contribute to medical research whenever funding is available. Recipients include The Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, The NY Presbyterian Medical Center, LSU NET lab replacement, LSU NET Research Fund, The Doctors Cancer Foundation, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, University of Iowa , Vanderbilt University and NANETS.

 

What is Neuroendocrine Cancer?

 

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is the umbrella term for a group of unusual, often slow- growing cancers, which arise from neuroendocrine cells found throughout the body. For years this group of cancers was identified as a specific disease called carcinoid. This term is being slowly replaced in medical literature by the term NETs.

Neuroendocrine tumors are not as rare once thought. Over 12,000 new patients are diagnosed each year and as many as 125,000 patients are living in the US today- AND the number of diagnoses is increasing by more than 5% annually.

 

Where are NETs Usually Found?

 

The most common sites for NETs to occur are in the digestive system, lung and pancreas, but they can also arise in many other parts of the body. The place where a NET first appears is called the primary site. However, the NET may spread to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes, liver or bones. If this occurs your doctor may refer to the NET as a secondary tumor or metastasis.
NETs are overlooked regularly during the diagnostic process. Many patients go untreated for years and have been told they have another disease. If the tumors are found early and you get proper treatment, you can live a long life.

Neuroendocrine cancer is listed with the National Organization of Rare Disorders. Because neuroendocrine (NET) cancer is considered rare and due to a lack of public awareness the disease has had a low priority for medical research. 

 

Did You Know?