There’s a terrific new resource for carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumor patients and their primary care physicians entitled Zebra Talk. According to Suzi Garber of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, editor, the handbook “is intended as a reference for those newly diagnosed with NETs (neuroendocrine tumors), in the process, or hoping to explore this bewildering world. It is also a guide to resources that can empower patients through knowledge and the mentorship of others to make informed decisions for medical care.” Suzi describes the handbook as a “virtual bridge that will allow patients to grow a relationship and inspire worthwhile communications between a patient and their primary care medical professional, their support team, and close friends.”
What do you do first after receiving a diagnosis of a NET? Zebra Talk walks you through the steps.
The handbook outlines the different types of NETs including gastrointestinal carcinoids, bronchial (lung) carcinoids, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas, and Merkel cell carcinoma (skin).
Information about the blood tests for NETs, tumor classifications, scans and other imaging such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and capsule endoscopy is also included in the handbook.
What are the various therapies for NET patients? Different types of surgery and liver-directed therapies are categorized. The guide includes descriptions of somatostatin analogs, chemotherapy, investigative agents, targeted therapies and anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic agents.
Carcinoid heart disease, bowel obstruction, and carcinoid crisis are all possible complications of carcinoid syndrome. Zebra Talk describes each of these and shares important information about the use of octreotide during surgery to reduce the risk of carcinoid crisis.
A section of Helpful Hints is an excellent guide for patients who are new to the journey of living with carcinoid or other NETs. Every medical vocabulary word within any paragraph in the handbook includes a definition in parentheses for a quick understanding of what is being said.
Internet Resource Links enable patients to easily access information about locating carcinoid/NET specialists, learning about clinical trials, nutrition, watching videos on carcinoid/NETs, attending conferences and events for the NET community, molecular profiling, clinical/medical papers, and much more.
The handbook also features a NET Glossary, Useful Facts to Know about Testing, and a chart of Gallium-68 Dotatate PET/CT U.S. clinical trial sites.
Suzi Garber has been living with a NET diagnosis since 2006, having had surgery to remove her primary mid-gut carcinoid tumor 7 years ago. She is the founder/support group leader of Philly NETs, a hospital to community liaison, and patient advocate. She was the only patient on the team that created the neuroendocrine clinic at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center, received the Advocate of the Year Award in 2011 from the University of Pennsylvania, and remains as liaison to the community at large for the NET program. Suzi says she “has been misdiagnosed, tardily diagnosed, treated for the wrong disease, and turned down for surgery five times until she heard a yes.” She recently participated in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Gallium-68 clinical trial. To read more about her experience at the NIH, click here.
Download a copy of Zebra Talk by CLICKING HERE.