What is Neuroendocrine Cancer? Symptoms and Treatment

Neuroendocrine cancer explained: signs, diagnosis, and treatment. GetWellGo supports international patients in accessing top medical care globally.

What is Neuroendocrine Cancer? Symptoms and Treatment

  • Category

    Cancer

  • Published By

    GetWellGo Team

  • Updated on

    18-Jul-2025

Neuroendocrine Cancer Treatment in India

The treatment of neuroendocrine cancer in India consists of multi-disciplinary approach, which involves advanced diagnostics, focused therapy, surgery and supportive care. India has a reputation of providing high quality and affordable treatment against neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) with treatment available in the major cancer centers of India and care offered by oncologists having expertise in rare cancer.

Treatments of Neuroendocrine Tumor in India:

Surgery

  • Often the initially used therapy in case of a localized tumor.
  • Different surgical teams conduct surgeries according to the location of tumors, Whipple surgery, liver resection, bowel surgery, or laparoscopic excision.

Targeted Therapy

  • Medications are used to prevent pathways that aid the growth of the NETs and these include: drugs such as Everolimus (Afinitor) or Sunitinib (Sutent).

Somatostatin Analogs (SSAs)

  • Such medications as Octreotide (Sandostatin) or Lanreotide help to manage symptoms related to the hormone production, as well as they can slow the development of the tumor.

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide therapy (PRRT)

  • The Lutetium-177 DOTATATE is a highly advanced nuclear medicine used in the best hospitals in India.

Chemotherapy

  • Employed against an aggressive or an advanced-stage NET; they may include such agents as Capecitabine, Temozolomide, and Cisplatin, depending on the tumor type.

Radiation Therapy

  • Inoperable or metastatic tumors may be treated by Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery.

Interventional Radiology

  • Radiofrequency ablation or embolization of the liver metastases.

Best hospital for neuroendocrine tumor in India

Neuroendocrine cancer specialist hospital India:

Apollo Hospital, Delhi

  • Why Best: A private chain with devoted NET program and Department of nuclear medicines.
  • Areas of specialization: PRRT (Lutetium-177 DOTATATE), targeted therapy cancer, surgical oncology, GI and lung NET management.
  • Support: Second opinion, international patient services and bundled packages.

Medanta -The Medicity, Gurgaon

  • Why Best: Providing high level interventional oncology, PRRT, and NET tumor boards.
  • A few important services: NET surgery, nuclear medicine, genomic profiling, SSA injections, targeted drugs.
  • Support: International patient coordinators.
  • Technology: Lutetium PRRT, Ga-68 DOTANOC PET-CT.

Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon

  • Why Best: Multi-disciplinary treatment that provides access to rare NET treatment and clinical trials.
  • Specific Services: PRRT, SSA treatment, special surgery (Whipple, liver resection), functional NETs treatment.
  • Support: Qualified oncologists with Endocrine and GI cancer experience.

Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket (Delhi)

  • Why Best: Provides full spectrum neuroendocrine tumors services.
  • Important services: NET tumor board, medical oncology, radionuclide therapy, nutrition and palliative support.
  • Accreditations: JCI, international standards, NABH.

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon

  • Why Best: Reputed to have low cost Nuclear medicine and global treatment.
  • Specialty: PRRT, SSA treatment, laparoscopic and robotic surgery NET, endocrine tumor experience.

Neuroendocrine Tumor Symptoms and Diagnosis

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare malignancies diagnosed in neuroendocrine cells, cells that resemble a mixture of nerve cells and hormone cells. These cancerous grow in any organs such as gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lungs, or even adrenal glands.

Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Symptoms

The symptoms are dependent on the part of the body where the tumor occurs, secretion of the hormones, and functional or non-functional status of the tumor.

General Symptoms 

  • Pain or cramping of the abdomen
  • Mysterious weight loss
  • Fatigue etc. or weakness
  • Weight loss
  • Gastrointestinal problems, i.e., nausea or vomiting
  • An identified growth or a lump

The Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Tumor

Blood Tests

  • Chromogranin A (CgA) - raised in most of the NETs
  • Hormone levels Hormone levels- Insulin, Gastrin, Glucagon, Serotonin, VIP and so on.
  • CBC, liver function tests (LFT) to check overall health

Urine Test

  • 24 hour 5 hydroxyindole acid test: Identifies is found to identify the breaking down of serotonin (helpful in carcinoid tumors)

Imaging Studies

  • CT Scan / MRI- used to determine where the tumor is and its spreading
  • Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET-CT scan - Net detection: very sensitive
  • Octreoscan (SRS scan) - Previous means of nuclear pictures to locate somatostatin receptor-positive tumors
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Pancreatic or GI NETs

Biopsy and Histopathology

  • Fine needle Aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy to determine type of cancer
  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) label: Synaptophysin, Chromogranin, Ki-67 index (grading)

Genetic Testing (uncommon or family occurrence of NETs)

  • Applicable to MEN1, VHL, NF1 as well as other syndromic disorders

Top doctors for neuroendocrine cancer in India

  • Dr. Parveen Yadav
  • Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid
  • Dr. Vinod Raina
  • Dr. Harit Chaturvedi

Neuroendocrine Cancer Treatment India GetWellGo

In this article, we have explained in detail about Neuroendocrine Cancer Treatment in India using the services of one of the medical tourism companies GetWellGo, which links the foreign and local patient with the best hospitals, skilled oncologists, and cost-effective treatment packages.

Treatment neuroendocrine cancer in India with GetWellGo

What is GetWellGo?

GetWellGo is a medical travel and treatment organizing portal that allows patients to get the best healthcare options in India and is one of the rare cancers such as Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). They provide complete services which include selection of hospital, appointment with doctors, visa assistance, and lodging.

Treatment Options of Neuroendocrine Cancer through GetWellGo

Diagnosis & Evaluation

  • Hormones chromogranin A, 5-HIAA assay
  • Ga-68 DOTATATE PET-CT scan
  • Octreoscan (in the available cases)
  • Histopathology and tumor biopsy
  • Genetic screening, in case it is needed (MEN1, VHL)

Treatment Modalities

  • Surgical Therapy: Surgery removal of the tumor, Whipple procedure, Surgery on liver metastases
  • Lutetium-177 DOTATATE therapy Peptide Receptor: Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)
  • Chemotherapy: capecitabine, Temozolomide, cisplatin-based combos
  • Target Therapy: Everolimus (Afinitor), Sunitinib (Sutent)
  • Somatostatin Analogs: Octreotide, Lanreotide
  • IMRT, SBRT Radiation Therapy
  • Palliative & Supportive Care: Diet, symptom control, pain

Top neuroendocrine cancer surgeons GetWellGo

Why Choose GetWellGo for Neuroendocrine Cancer Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Neuroendocrine Cancer treatment.
  • Expert oncologist with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food

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