Types of surgery for neuroendocrine cancer

Aims of surgery for neuroendocrine cancer

A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. They are called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). 

The aim of surgery and the type of surgery you have depends on your situation. Factors your team consider include:

• where the neuroendocrine cancer is

• the type of neuroendocrine cancer

• the size and whether it has spread (stage)

• your symptoms

• your general health and fitness

• the side effects of the operation

There are different aims of surgery:

To completely remove your cancer

Your surgeon might be able to completely remove an early cancer that hasn't spread. For many people, this cures their cancer. Doctors call this curative surgery.

To remove as much cancer as possible

Your surgeon may not be able to remove all the cancer. But they might remove as much as possible. This can help with symptoms. You might have this alongside other treatments. Doctors call this debulking surgery.

To help with symptoms

You might have surgery that aims to help your symptoms. For example, to bypass cancer that is causing a blockage in your ​digestive system.  Doctors call this palliative surgery.

How you have surgery

There are different ways of doing surgery, and different types of operation. Your team will tell you about your surgery and what it involves.

Your team will tell you about your type of surgery. This will include information about the length of hospital stay, risks and recovery time. There are different ways of doing surgery. Sometimes surgeons combine these:

• Open surgery means the surgeon makes a large cut (incision) through the skin.

• Keyhole or laparoscopic surgery means the surgeon makes several small cuts through the skin. They use a ​laparoscope​ to look inside your body and remove tissue through the cuts.

• Robotic surgery means the surgeon uses a robotic machine to help with keyhole surgery.

• Endoscopic surgery means the surgeon removes or destroys tissue through a tube (endoscope). They pass the tube into your body, usually through your mouth or back passage (rectum).

Types of surgery for neuroendocrine cancer

The type of surgery you have depends on your primary site.

Surgery for lung neuroendocrine cancer

Surgery is the main treatment for typical carcinoid (TC) and atypical carcinoid (AC). These are types of lung ​neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). You might also have surgery for large cell ​neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) that hasn't spread.

A thoracic or cardiothoracic surgeon does the operation. They usually remove a small section of the lung (lobectomy). Or they may remove the whole lung (pneumonectomy).

Find out more about treatment for lung neuroendocrine cancer including surgery

Surgery for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers

You see a surgeon who specialises in surgery of the pancreas. Your surgeon might remove:

• just the cancer - this is called enucleation

• the part of the pancreas where the cancer is

• part of the pancreas and some nearby organs such as the gallbladder

• the whole pancreas

Your surgeon may also remove the ​lymph nodes​ around the pancreas. The lymph nodes drain away fluid, waste products and damaged cells, and contain cells that fight infection. They are often the first place where cancers spread to.

Surgery for neuroendocrine cancers of your digestive system

The digestive system includes the:

• stomach

• small and large bowel

• back passage (rectum)

For small early stage cancers

You often have keyhole or laparoscopic surgery. Your surgeon makes small cuts in your tummy (abdomen). They pass a long tube called a ​laparoscope​ and other instruments through these cuts. The laparoscope has a light and camera on the end, so your surgeon can look into your abdomen. They use the instruments to remove the cancer. 

For large cancers

You are more likely to have open surgery. This means your surgeon makes one long cut down your abdomen to remove the cancer. 

Choose the type of neuroendocrine cancer to find out more about your type of surgery

Other treatments for neuroendocrine cancer

There are other types of treatment if you can’t have surgery. These include:

• somatostatin analogues

• radiotherapy

• chemotherapy

• targeted drugs

These treatments can control your symptoms and help you feel better. But they won’t get rid of the NET.

Find out about the other treatments you might have

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.

Visit Cancer Chat

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.

We have information about living and coping with a neuroendocrine cancer