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NET Cancer Day   10 November 2024

Easily missed.Take a closer look at neuroendocrine cancer

 #LetsTalkAboutNETs    #NETCancerDay

It took 4-5 doctors and 8 months of testing to receive my NET cancer diagnosis. Not enough people know about NETs.
PATIENT
Tanisha (USA)

My pheochromocytoma journey began in the late year of 2008. I didn’t have symptoms but a light fainting episode. I went to the hospital, received a cat scan. Upon checking the cat scan a mass on my left side was found. Nothing was addressed about the mass, and I was told me to go see my primary doctor. I arrived at the primary doctor’s office and had blood work done.

Once I received my blood work information all seemed fine. My heart rate was a little elevated. Off to the cardiologist I went for further testing. The testing showed everything was ok. I was sent to 4-5 doctors to be told nothing was wrong. I was told by one of them that I was delusional.

Finally after round and round with doctors that I wasn’t delusional the cardiologist looked further into it and decided to do a 24hr urine sample.

After 8 months of testing, going back and forth to doctors I finally was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. I was placed on beta-blockers and heart medication. My heart was racing, but I didn’t feel any symptoms. The surgery was done at U. Penn with Dr. Kendrick Mayurma in 2009.

Presently, I have been pheo free for 12yrs. I am still on the road to continue to be as healthy as I can be.

I am hoping my story helps someone who has or may go through something similar with doctors who don’t listen to the patient. That was a big problem I had during the 8-month process. It’s a journey no one will understand unless they go through it.

I hope this helps someone who can relate, we are all here together gracefully!

Find out about symptoms, tests and treatments of 26 types of NETs in 11 languages with Global NET Patient Information Pack

Browse Stories

View these stories in your language by using the Google Translate button above.

Simona (Italy)

Simona (Italy)

I am Simona, I am 59 years old and I have been living with an ileal neuroendocrine tumor since when I was 47. How...

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Sandra (USA)

My name is Sandra Dillon and I’m 53 years old. I have 4 grown children and 3 wonderful grandchildren. I live in Florida, USA...

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Sheri (South Africa)

Sheri Fairbank, age 44, from South Africa. Hobbies: Yoga, Art, theatre, time at the beach, meditation. I am a very hands-on mum of...

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Jack (New Zealand)

I'm Jack van der Salm from New Zealand, currently 66 years old, and with my wife Jo-Ann, we own a dairy farm at...

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Katja (The Netherlands)

My name is Katja Starrenburg and I live in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. I am 51 years old, married, and I...

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Michel (Mexico, Canada)

My name is Michel DeQuevedo, I am a 52-year-old Mexican - Canadian musician living in Hamilton ON, Canada. How were you diagnosed...

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Corinne (France)

My name is Corinne, I am a 61 year-old GP, married to an A & E doctor, I have two children - a...

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Sergio (Chile)

My name is Sergio Alvarado, I am from Chile, 53 years old. I am Professor of Mathematics and a veterinary doctor. I have...

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Britta (Denmark)

My name is Britta, I am 73 years old and live in Denmark. I live in a flat with my dog. My current...

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Bill (USA)

My name is Bill Thach, I am a 38 year-old living in the United States in the state of Texas. I am married...

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Nicholas (Kenya)

My name is Nicholas Rotich. I am a Kenyan. 47 years old. Hobbies: Farming and environmental conservation. How were you diagnosed and how...

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Angela (Brazil)

My name is Ângela Maria Rocha, I'm 54 years old, I'm from Brazil and I live in Minas Gerais, in the city of...

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Oliver (Germany)

My name is Oliver. I live in Germany, I am 59 years old, I have been married for 35 years, I have 2 children, 4 grandchildren...

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Yu Qi (Taiwan)

Age: 51 years old Name: Yu Qi Country: Taiwan Hobbies: travelling, making new friends, learning new things. How were you diagnosed and how...

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Luciano (Italy)

I’m Luciano. I was born in Milan in 1949. I am married and I have one daughter. I currently live in Monza...

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Karin (Belgium)

I am Karin from Belgium, 64 years old. I live in a green village in Limburg and am a mother of 3 children and...

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Anne (The Netherlands)

My name is Anne Zeijpveld. I’m 45 years old and was born in The Netherlands, but have lived in Seattle, United States...

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Jasmyn (USA)

My name is Jasmyn Ramirez, I’m 21 years old from California in the United States! I’m a fourth-year college student majoring...

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Amanda (Australia)

My name is Amanda and I live in Australia. I am a lover of netball. My favorite thing is to take my...

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Mei-Ying (Taiwan)

Name: CHEN, MEI-YING, Female Age: 65 years old Hobbies: Hang out with friends and do outdoor activities. How were you diagnosed and how...

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Michael (South Africa)

My name is Michael Meredith, I am 75, married and live in the Western Cape in a beautiful village called Riebeeck Kasteel, which...

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Duncan (South Africa)

My name is Duncan Macduff and I am 45 years old. I am fortunate to live in the beautiful city of Cape Town...

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Ruben (Argentina)

I am Ruben, 57 years old, from Argentina. How were you diagnosed and how long did it take?  I had diarrhoea and rectal...

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Mariska (Netherlands)

My name is Mariska Masselink, I live in the Netherlands. My age is 53. I love walking my dog, a wonderful Dachshund, reading...

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Michael (Israel)

Michael Rosenberg, born in Bucharest, Romania on 26/12/1952. I emigrated to Israel in 1970 at 18 years of age, studied Computer Science. Lived in South...

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Julian (Germany)

I am Julian , Germany, 33 years old.  Motorcycles are my hobby. How did you get your diagnosis? How long did it take? I...

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Jean-Pierre (Canada)

My name is Jean-Pierre Durand, I live in Quebec, Canada. I’m 69 years old and my hobbies are travelling, camping, hiking, skiing...

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Geoff (Australia)

My name is Geoff Tomlin, 76 years old and I have lived in Tasmania, Australia all of my life. I have been married...

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Adriana (Uruguay)

I am Adriana, 67 years old, from Uruguay. How were you diagnosed and how long did it take?  It took 10 years. Since 2012 I...

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Paul (USA)

My name is Paul Kaczmarek. I am 48 years old and I live in the United States. I like being in the outdoors...

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Lydia (UK)

My name is Lydia, 16 years of age and diagnosed with MEN1 when I was 4 years old. MEN1 is on my dad’s...

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Dr Sugandha Dureja (India)

I am Dr Sugandha Dureja, MD, FEBNM, a Nuclear Medicine physician working in New Delhi India. I am trained in Theranostics from...

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Tanisha (USA)

My pheochromocytoma journey began in the late year of 2008. I didn’t have symptoms but a light fainting episode. I went to...

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Simon (Canada)

My name is Simon and I’m 36 years old. I live in Quebec, Canada. I’m an aerospace engineer and a proud...

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Richard (Kenya)

My name is Richard Kiprono Ngeno from Kapsoit, Kericho County of Kenya. I am a 37-year-old man and a small-time farmer. My...

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Pauline (France)

I am Pauline, 33 years old and I live in France. I love board games, knitting and swimming. I was discovered my NET...

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Julie (UK)

My name is Julie Rose, I am 48 (49 in November) and I used to enjoy taking part in a lot of fitness, running...

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Esteve (Spain)

My name is Esteve, I was born in Barcelona and I am 56 years old. I have a great family and I am...

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Dr Mark Lewis (USA)

My name is Mark Lewis. I am living in the USA but was born in Scotland. I am 42 years old. I work...

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Dirk (Belgium)

Dirk Van Genechten, Belgian (Flemish), 62. Hobbies: my grandchildren, traveling, good food and wine, petrolhead (cars and motorcycles). How were you diagnosed and...

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Barbara (Italy)

My name is Barbara. I am 51 years old, I was born in Rome and live in Santarcangelo di Romagna close to Rimini...

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Sue Williams (UK)

2018, I had lost two stone, busy life, family and full time job, at 56 I thought that was how life was? Relaxing after...

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David Corbin (UK)

I was first diagnosed in August 2019 and after seeing multiple consultants in a short period of time I was referred to Sheffield...

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Andreia (Portugal)

I was diagnosed in August 2013 after 5 years of dealing with a recurring pain attributed to a cyst in my left ovary. The...

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Amanda (UK)

I was diagnosed as being menopausal at 48 in 2014 and opted for HRT so from then on I was getting regular checks and...

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Adam Martin (Northern Ireland)

For 18 months I thought I had a food intolerance, or IBS as almost every time I ate I had stomach pains. The...

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Pauline Mather (UK)

I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer of my pancreas & liver February 2019. I had major Whipple surgery May 2019 at Freeman hospital Newcastle...

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Marbellys Bayne-Azcarate (UK)

I was diagnosed in October 2015 with Stage IV Neuroendocrine Cancer. I had been experiencing intermittent and unexplained abdominal pain for five years...

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NETs are more common than brain, ovarian, and cervical cancer and incidence is on the rise.

We need the help of our global community to raise awareness and improve diagnostic times and the quality of life for NET patients around the world.

On November 10, help us spread the word

Know the symptoms. Push for diagnosis. #LetsTalkAboutNETs