Jervoise Andreyev

Executive summary This guidance document is intended for health professionals who see patients who have gastrointestinal issues during and after treatment for cancer which could be affecting their quality of life or potentially interfering with the effective delivery of their treatment for cancer. In a rapidly evolving area, it also touches on future perspectives. There is little definitive evidence so recommendations are largely based on expert opinion.

Executive summary This guidance document is intended for health professionals who see patients who have gastrointestinal issues during and after treatment for cancer which could be affecting their quality of life or potentially interfering with the effective delivery of their treatment for cancer. In a rapidly evolving area, it also touches on future perspectives. There is little definitive evidence so recommendations are largely based on expert opinion.

Functioning NENs and specific syndromes The majority of NENs are non-functional. Suppression of hormone and peptide secretion in those with functional syndromes is fundamental to patient management (table 7). The presence of carcinoid syndrome is typically associated with metastatic small intestinal NENs but can also occur in lung, pancreatic, and ovarian NENs. ‘Curative’ resection of the NEN and metastases will alleviate GI symptoms from hormone hypersecretion.