“Weight loss associated with neuroendocrine cancerous tumors? ”
I am a cancer patient with several neuroendocrine tumors in my colon. When I was diagnosed eight years ago (2013) I weighed 185 lbs. Today (2021) I weigh 150 lbs, a 35 lb loss with much of the loss coming within the last five years. There have been no major changes in my diet although I don't eat beef or pork. My treatment for cancer dating from 2013 to 2019 was a monthly injection of Sandostatin which was changed in 2020 to a Lanreotide. My latest PET/Scan (August 2020) shows no significant growth in the tumors and has stabilized somewhat. What, if any, is the relationship between my weight loss and the cancerous tumors?
Male | 91 years old
2 Answers
Is your chromogranin A stable or trending up? The monthly injection can cause pancreatic insufficiency with time and to confirm that, visit with a Gastroenterologist to get a 24-hour stool fat content measured.
Hello. Neuroendocrine tumors can cause many symptoms due to their secretion of hormones. It sounds as if yours are being expertly managed. Neuroendocrine tumors can cause both weight gain or loss. Much of their management is for control of symptoms.
The change in your medicine is concerning enough to investigate if the new medicine is causing a side effect. It sounds like your doctor is managing the tumor well. If the weight loss is due to a side effect of the lanreotide it might be best to put you back on sandostatin for tumor management.
It would be best to discuss your concerns with your doctor and ask for their opinion regarding the causes.
The change in your medicine is concerning enough to investigate if the new medicine is causing a side effect. It sounds like your doctor is managing the tumor well. If the weight loss is due to a side effect of the lanreotide it might be best to put you back on sandostatin for tumor management.
It would be best to discuss your concerns with your doctor and ask for their opinion regarding the causes.
