Survival for neuroendocrine cancer
Survival (
) for neuroendocrine cancer depends on many factors. These include your type and stage of neuroendocrine cancer. No one can tell you exactly how long you will live.
Neuroendocrine cancers are a group of cancers that develop in cells of the . You might also hear the term neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN). This means the same as neuroendocrine cancer.
There are 2 key groups of neuroendocrine cancer:
neuroendocrine tumours (NETs ) neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs )
NETs and NECs are very different. So it is important to know which one you have. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse if you are not sure.
Some neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) have a very good outlook. But all NETs have the ability to spread, even if they are slow growing. And some NETs are fast growing and can also spread. Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) grow quickly and can spread to other parts of the body. Faster growing cancers, and cancers that have spread, can be more difficult to treat.
Doctors usually work out the outlook for a certain disease by looking at large groups of people. But neuroendocrine cancer is less common than some other types of cancer, and there are many different types. So survival is harder to estimate than for other, more common cancers.
Some of the statistics have to be based on a small number of people. Remember, they can't tell you what will happen in your individual case.
Your doctor can give you more information about your own prognosis.
You can also talk about this to the Cancer Research UK nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
About these statistics
The terms 1 year survival and 5 year survival don't mean that you will only live for 1 or 5 years.
The NHS, other health organisations, and researchers collect information. They record what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.
5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis.
What affects survival
Prognosis means the likely outlook for your cancer. In other words, how likely it is that treatment can cure or control your cancer, and how long you might live after your diagnosis.
Your prognosis depends on many factors. These are called prognostic factors. Below are some prognostic factors for neuroendocrine cancer.
Type of cancer
Neuroendocrine cancer is a group of cancers that start in neuroendocrine cells. Doctors also call these cancers neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). There are 2 key groups of NENs:
- neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
- neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)
NETs are often slow growing and usually have a better prognosis than NECs. NECs are faster growing and are more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
NETs and NECs are very different. So it is important to know which one you have. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse if you are not sure.
Doctors also group neuroendocrine cancers depending on the place they start growing. They call this your site. For example, a lung neuroendocrine cancer starts in the lung. Your prognosis depends on the primary site of your neuroendocrine cancer.
Grade of the cancer
The grade affects your prognosis. The grade refers to how fast the cancer cells are growing. The higher the grade, the faster the growth. Generally, fast growing (high grade) cancers are more likely to come back after treatment than slow growing (low grade) cancers.
Stage of the cancer
This refers to the size of the cancer, and whether it has spread. There are 4 stages of neuroendocrine cancer - stage 1 to stage 4. The stage of the cancer affects your outlook. Cancers that are larger or that have spread are more difficult to treat than early, small cancers.
Age and general health at diagnosis
Your prognosis is often better if you are younger and in good health. If you are very fit and healthy, you are likely to recover quicker from treatment.
Survival for the different types of neuroendocrine cancer
There are no UK-wide statistics available for people with each type of neuroendocrine cancer. The following statistics come from a study in England. This looked at people diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in England, between 2012 and 2018.
The statistics don’t take into account the age of the people with neuroendocrine cancer. Statistics that do take into account the age are not available.
Below we have a section of survival statistics for each primary site of neuroendocrine cancer. Each section includes statistics for:
- neuroendocrine tumour (NET) and neuroendocrine cancer (NEC)
- each
stage of cancer - there are 4 stages (1 to 4)
Talk to your healthcare team if you are unsure about your type or stage of neuroendocrine cancer.
Incidence and survival of neuroendocrine neoplasia in England 1995−2018: A retrospective, population based study
B White and others
Lancet Regional Health Europe, 2022. Volume 23, pages 1 - 11
These figures are for people diagnosed in England between 2012 and 2018.
The statistics don’t take into account the age of the people with neuroendocrine cancer. Statistics that do take into account the age (age-standardised statistics) are not available.
Without age standardisation, the survival differences between the 4 stage groups can be influenced by the age of the people in each stage group, in addition to their disease progression or treatment.
We should not use these non age-standardised figures to compare survival with other groups, such as different cancer types, stages, or populations from other countries.
Survival for lung neuroendocrine cancer
The following statistics are for survival for the different stages of lung neuroendocrine cancer. We have statistics for:
- lung neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) - these include typical carcinoid (TC) and atypical carcinoid (AC)
- lung neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)
Stage 1 lung NETs
Around 90 out of 100 people (around 90%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 lung NETs
More than 80 out of 100 people (more than 80%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 lung NETs
Around 55 out of 100 people (around 55%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 lung NETs
More than 10 out of 100 people (more than 10%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 lung NECs
75 out of 100 people (75%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 lung NECs
More than 45 out of 100 people (more than 45%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 lung NECs
Around 20 out of 100 people (around 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 lung NECs
Around 5 out of 100 people (around 5%) survive for 5 years or more
Survival for stomach neuroendocrine cancer
The following statistics are for survival for each stage of stomach neuroendocrine cancer. Stage refers to the size of your cancer and whether it has spread. There are 4 stages.
This is different to the 3 types of stomach neuroendocrine tumour (NET). You can read about the different types of stomach NETs at the link below.
There are 3 types of stomach NETs. The prognosis for type 1 is usually excellent, type 2 is usually good, and type 3 is less good than 1 and 2.
Below we have statistics for:
- all types of stomach neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) - this includes type 1, type 2 and type 3 stomach NETs
- all stomach neuroendocrine carcinoma (NECs) - this includes large cell and small cell stomach NECs
Stage 1 stomach NETs
Around 85 out of 100 people (around 85%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 stomach NETs
More than 70 out of 100 people (more than 70%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 stomach NETs
70 out of 100 people (70%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 stomach NETs
Around 20 out of 100 people (around 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 stomach NECs
More than 35 out of 100 people (more than 35%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 stomach NECs
Almost 20 out of 100 people (almost 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 stomach NECs
More than 20 out of 100 people (more than 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 stomach NECs
2 out of 100 people (2%) survive for 5 years or more
Survival for small bowel neuroendocrine cancers
The following statistics are for survival for each stage of small bowel neuroendocrine cancer. The small bowel is also called the small intestine. There are different parts of the small bowel. The following statistics are for neuroendocrine cancers that start in the:
- jejunum
- ileum
We have statistics for:
- small bowel neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
- small bowel carcinomas (NECs)
Stage 1 small bowel NETs
Around 85 out of 100 people (around 85%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 small bowel NETs
Almost 75 out of 100 people (almost 75%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 small bowel NETs
80 out of 100 people (80%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 small bowel NETs
Almost 45% out of 100 people (almost 45%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 small bowel NECs
60 out of 100 people (60%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 small bowel NECs
Around 45 out of 100 people (around 45%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 small bowel NECs
Almost 60 out of 100 people (almost 60%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 small bowel NECs
More than 30 out of 100 people (more than 30%) survive for 5 years or more
Survival for large bowel neuroendocrine cancers
The following survival statistics are for each stage of large bowel neuroendocrine cancer. The large bowel is also called the colon or the large intestine.
We also have survival statistics for neuroendocrine cancers that start in the caecum. The caecum is part of the large bowel. It is the pouch that connects the large bowel to the small bowel.
We have statistics for:
- large bowel neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
- large bowel carcinomas (NECs)
- neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) of the caecum
- neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the caecum
We have a separate section below about survival for rectal neuroendocrine cancers. The rectum (back passage) is the last part of the large bowel.
Stage 1 large bowel NETs
95 out of 100 people (95%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 large bowel NETs
Around 75 out of 100 people (around 75%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 large bowel NETs
Almost 65 out of 100 people (almost 65%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 large bowel NETs
Almost 20% out of 100 people (almost 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 large bowel NECs
80 out of 100 people (80%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 large bowel NECs
Almost 60 out of 100 people (almost 60%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 large bowel NECs
Around 30 out of 100 people (around 30%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 large bowel NECs
Almost 5 out of 100 people (almost 5%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 caecal NETs
90 out of 100 people (90%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 caecal NETs
75 out of 100 people (75%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 caecal NETs
More than 80 out of 100 people (more than 80%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 caecal NETs
Almost 50% out of 100 people (almost 50%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 caecal NECs
50 out of 100 people (50%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 caecal NECs
Almost 55 out of 100 people (almost 55%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 caecal NECs
Around 20 out of 100 people (around 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 caecal NECs
Around 5 out of 100 people (around 5%) survive for 5 years or more
Survival for rectal neuroendocrine cancers
The following survival statistics are for each stage of rectal neuroendocrine cancer. The rectum (back passage) is the last part of the large bowel.
We also have separate survival statistics for neuroendocrine cancers that start in the large bowel. You can see these higher up the page.
We have statistics below for:
- rectal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
- rectal neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)
Stage 1 rectal NETs
More than 95 out of 100 people (more than 95%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 rectal NETs
More than 85 out of 100 people (more than 85%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 rectal NETs
65 out of 100 people (65%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 rectal NETs
More than 20% out of 100 people (more than 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 rectal NECs
Around 75 out of 100 people (around 75%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 rectal NECs
Around 30 of 100 people (around 30%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 rectal NECs
Around 20 out of 100 people (around 20%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 rectal NECs
1 out of 100 people (1%) survive for 5 years or more
Survival for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer
The following statistics are for survival for the different stages of all types of pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. We have statistics for:
- all types of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) - this includes insulinoma, gastrinoma, VIPoma, glucagonoma, somatostatinoma and non functioning pancreatic NETs
- pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)
Stage 1 pancreatic NETs
More than 85 out of 100 people (more than 85%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 pancreatic NETs
85 out of 100 people (85%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 pancreatic NETs
Around 70 out of 100 people (around 70%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 pancreatic NETs
Around 25% out of 100 people (around 25%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 1 pancreatic NECs
Around 70 out of 100 people (around 70%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 2 pancreatic NECs
Around 60 out of 100 people (around 60%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 3 pancreatic NECs
Almost 35 out of 100 people (almost 35%) survive for 5 years or more
Stage 4 pancreatic NECs
Around 10 out of 100 people (around 10%) survive for 5 years or more
Survival for merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)
The statistics below are for MCC diagnosed in England between 2014 and 2016. They are from the Get Data Out programme from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS). More recent survival statistics are not available. Survival might be better now because of improvements in treatment.
MCC survival statistics from the Get Data Out programme are only for England. We don't have any UK-wide survival statistics for people with MCC in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
We have statistics for:
- all stages of MCC together
- the different stages of MCC
These statistics are for people diagnosed between 2014 and 2016 and are for all stages of MCC in England:
- almost 80 out of 100 people (almost 80%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more
- more than 50 out of 100 people (more than 50%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more
The following statistics are for survival for the different stages MCC. Stage refers to the size of your cancer and how far it has spread.
We have statistics for:
- 5 year survival for stage 1 and 2 MCC (stage 1 and stage 2 statistics are not available separately)
- 5 year survival for stage 3 MCC
- 1 year survival for stage 4 MCC (5 year survival is not available)
Stage 1 and 2 MCC
The Get Data Out programme report 5-year survival for stages 1 and 2 together:
- around 60 out of 100 people (around 60%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more
Stage 1 and 2 means your MCC hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, or to distant parts of your body.
Stage 3 MCC
- around 35 out of 100 people (around 35%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more
Stage 3 MCC means your MCC has spread to your lymph nodes, but it hasn’t spread to a distant part of your body.
Stage 4 MCC
The Get Data Out programme does not report 5-year survival statistics for stage 4 MCC. We present 1-year survival instead:
- around 45 out of 100 people (around 45%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more
Stage 4 MCC means your cancer has spread to another part of your body, such as your lungs.
Please note, this doesn't mean you will only live 1 year. It relates to the number of people who are still alive 1 year after their diagnosis of cancer. We don’t have 5 year survival statistics for people with stage 4 MCC.
These statistics are for people diagnosed with merkel cell carcinoma in England between 2014 and 2016.
National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) detailed statistics from the ‘Get Data Out’ programme
Website accessed in April 2025
These statistics are for net survival. Net survival estimates the number of people who survive their cancer rather than calculating the number of people diagnosed with cancer who are still alive. In other words, it is the survival of cancer patients after taking into account that some people would have died from other causes if they had not had cancer.
Coping with neuroendocrine cancer
You might have physical changes to your body because of your cancer or the treatment. These changes can be hard to cope with and can affect the way you feel about yourself. It can help to talk to friends and family. Or join a support group to meet people in a similar situation.
We have a discussion forum called Cancer Chat. It is a place for anyone affected by cancer. You can share experiences, stories and information with other people with cancer.
You might need practical advice about benefits or financial help. There is help and support available. There are also organisations to support and provide information to people affected by neuroendocrine cancer.
