Neuroendocrine & Carcinoid Tumors - Octreotide Levels
Neuroendocrine tumors can grow anywhere in a person’s body. They affect neuroendocrine cells, which can be found throughout the nervous and endocrine systems. These cells manufacture and secrete regulatory hormones, necessary for several bodily functions. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can cause the overproduction of these hormones.
Carcinoid, a type of NET, are slow growing tumors. The lack of patient symptoms make them hard to detect and diagnose. Many patients with Carcinoid tumors acquire a condition called Carcinoid Syndrome from the over-production of serotonin.
These conditions can create asthma-like wheezing, flushing of the face, severe diarrhea with resultant dehydration, and even cardiac disease. Octreotide - brand name Sandostatin® - is a type of medicine called a somatostatin analogue. It is used to treat NET patients who are experiencing these debillitating symptoms.
Patients receiving injections of octreotide may experience difficulty in controlling their symptoms with monthly injections. Your weight and the rate at which the drug is absorbed and metabolized, can effect the level of useful octreotide in the your system. Often, your physician will need to supplement your treatment with additional daily injections. This is referred to as ‘rescue’ treatment. Having blood plasma checked for octreotide levels, to make sure that you are receiving and absorbing optimum levels of the drug, can help you to avoid this. You can read more about the testing here:
Octreotide Level Testing
Dr. Eugene Woltering is concerned that these optimal levels are not being achieved. To help him research this, we have created a simple patient survey to compare octreotide use and drug activity. This is an anonymous, volunteer survey. All identifying information will remain secure and confidential. The results of this survey may be important to you.
We are asking that all patients, using octreotide injections, consider participation in the survey. To do this, you will need to gather octreotide blood level test results during your treatment period with octreotide injectible (Sandostatin®). Contact your treating physician to get these reports.
If you would like to participate, click here:
Octreotide Survey
If you have any questions, or need help participating, please use this form and give me as much information as you can:
Contact Us
If you know of someone who might like to participate, but does not have a computer, please print this form off and have them fill it out:
Printable Survey Form
The survey is being conducted by:
Eugene A. Woltering MD FACS
James D. Rives Professor of Surgery & Neurosciences
Chief, Sections of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery
Director of Surgical Research
LSUHSC Department of Surgery
New Orleans LA 70112
In cooperation with:
The Rare Cancer Alliance
Sharon Lane, Administrator
Please pass this information on to other neuroendocrine and carcinoid survivors, you may know. Thank You