The survival rate for a carcinoid tumor depends on the stage of the tumor at the time of its diagnosis. Overall, the survival rates for carcinoid tumors have been observed to be good. Because they are often found at an earlier stage, it is easier to treat them.
The survival rate is analyzed in a large study, in which the lifespan of a large population, after the diagnosis of cancer, is observed for a specific timeframe. It is generally presented as a five-year survival rate—what percentage of people lived for at least five years after the diagnosis.
For example, the five-year survival rate (as shown in Table 1) for tumor limited only to the specific organ (localized tumor) is 97%. This means that 97 of 100 people who were diagnosed with carcinoid tumors could live for at least five years or more.
| *SEER Stage | Five-Year Relative Survival Rate |
| Localized | 97% |
| Regional | 94% |
| Distant | 67% |
| All SEER stages combined | 94% |
*SEER Stage: Stage of the tumor as determined by the Surveillance, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI); Digestive system: the stomach, small intestine, colon, appendix, cecum, and rectum; Reginal: Tumor that has spread to the adjacent lymph nodes; Distant: Tumor that has spread to the distant organs.
Carcinoid tumors of the lung generally have better survival outcomes than other forms of lung cancers. They have an overall 5-year survival rate of 78-95% and a 10-year survival rate of 77-90%.
If the lung carcinoid tumor has spread to the lymph nodes, five-year survival rates can range from 37 to 80%.
Life expectancy is not good for the carcinoid tumor that has spread to other organs of the body.
What is a carcinoid tumor?
A carcinoid tumor is a rare cancer of the neuroendocrine system (a system of the nerve cells that also produces hormones in the body). It is usually a slow-growing tumor.
The tumor grows in the following organs:
- Appendix (common)
- Bowels (common)
- Lungs (common)
- Stomach
- Pancreas
- Breast
- Kidney
- Ovaries
- Testicles
“Carcinoid syndrome” is the advanced form of the carcinoid tumor. It is a term given for a set of symptoms that develop when the carcinoid tumor spreads to other organs and releases hormones such as serotonin that lead to hormonal imbalance.
What are the signs and symptoms of a carcinoid tumor?
The signs and symptoms produced by the tumor depend upon the organ on which the tumor has developed. As they are fair general, they can be easily mistaken for illnesses other than the tumor. Hence, the doctor will take your complete medical history and order various tests before diagnosing the carcinoid tumor.
It is also possible that you may have a carcinoid tumor with no signs and symptoms. For example, in a carcinoid tumor of the appendix, the doctor might discover it during surgery a such as removal of the appendix.
| Location of the carcinoid tumor | Signs and symptoms |
| Bowel | Abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bleeding from the rectum |
| Lung | Cough, blood in the cough, breathlessness, chest pain, and fatigue |
| Stomach | Stomach pain, weight loss, tiredness, and weakness |
SLIDESHOW
Skin Cancer Symptoms, Types, Images See SlideshowWhat causes carcinoid tumors?
Doctors do not know the exact cause of carcinoid tumors. However, they have found out some factors that may increase your chances of developing one. These include:
- Having a close family member with a carcinoid tumor
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)
- Having parents with any of the following cancers:
- Squamous cell skin cancer
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Cancer of the brain, breast, liver, uterus, bladder, or kidney
- Neurofibromatosis (a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on the nerve tissue)
- Tuberous sclerosis (a rare, multisystem genetic disease that causes tumors or growths in organs)
Can second cancers develop after carcinoid tumor treatment?
Unfortunately, you may develop other cancers (known as secondary cancers) unrelated to the carcinoid tumor even after you get treated for the carcinoid tumor.
As a survivor of a lung carcinoid tumor, you have a higher risk of
A carcinoid tumor of the digestive system puts you at a higher risk of
- prostate cancer,
- melanoma,
- female breast cancer,
- colon and rectal cancer,
- lung cancer, and
- bladder cancer.
Can you lower your risk of second cancer?
A step like quitting tobacco certainly helps in lowering the risk of secondary cancer after treatment for a carcinoid tumor. This is true not only for lung carcinoid tumors specifically but also for carcinoid tumors in other organs.
To help maintain good health, you, as a carcinoid survivor, need to
Carcinoid Lung Tumors. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/426400-overview#a2
Carcinoid Tumor. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/986050-overview
Top What Is the Survival Rate for a Carcinoid Tumor? Related Articles
Anal Cancer
Anal cancer, cancer located at the end of the large intestine, has symptoms that include anal or rectal bleeding, anal pain or pressure, anal discharge or itching, a change in bowel movements, and/or a lump in the anal region. Treatment for anal cancer may involve radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery and depends upon the stage of the cancer, its location, whether cancer is eradicated after the first treatment, and whether the patient has HIV.
Anal cancer is usually curable when found localized. Early detection remains the key to long-term survival as it is in many forms of cancer.
Can Pancoast Lung Cancer Be Cured?
Pancoast tumors are a rare type of lung cancer that forms at the extreme top of either of the lungs. Due to their location at the top of the lung, there’s a high chance that cancer might attack the adjacent tissue and produce typical symptoms.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
How Long Does Lung Cancer Take to Develop?
The time taken for lung cancer to develop is variable. It takes several years for cancer to develop in the lungs. Early lung cancer does not alert obvious physical changes. Moreover, patients can live with lung cancer for many years before they show any signs or symptoms.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. Eight out of 10 lung cancers are due to tobacco smoke. Lung cancers are classified as either small-cell or non-small-cell lung cancers.
Lung Cancer Myths/Facts
Learn about lung cancer myths and facts. Explore how cigar smoke, menthol, and pollution can increase your risk of lung cancer and learn what to avoid.Lung Cancer Picture
Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the body's basic unit of life, the cell. See a picture of Lung Cancer and learn more about the health topic.
Lung Cancer Slideshow
Learn about lung cancer early warning signs, symptoms and treatments. What causes stage IV lung cancer? Get more information on small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and the diagnosis of lung cancer stages.
Know Your Lung Cancer Facts Quiz
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S. and worldwide. Get the facts about lung cancer with this quiz.
Small Cell Lung Cancer vs. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) consist of large cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) usually starts in the bronchi and typically appears in those who smoke. SCLC and NSCLC are staged in different manners, and SCLC tends to metastasize more quickly than NSCLC. Signs and symptoms of NSCLC and SCLC include shortness of breath, coughing up blood, recurring lung infections, and chest pain. Treatment may involve radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.What Are the Four Types of Lung Cancer?
The four types of lung cancer are classified by what kind of cells the cancer affects and what the tumor cells look like under a microscope. Lung cancers can be small-cell or non-small cell, further classified as squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.What Is the Survival Rate of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?
There are two main types of lung cancers, namely, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases in the United States. It must be noted that medical science is progressing with leaps and bounds, and treatment for lung cancer must be initiated and maintained despite the stage of diagnosis.What Is Usually the First Sign of Lung Cancer?
Most often, lung cancer does not show any signs and symptoms until it has advanced to higher stages when it becomes difficult to treat. The initial signs and symptoms vary among patients but may include cough that remains unrelieved and gets worse over time, hemoptysis (coughing up blood) or reddish spit, chest pain that worsens on breathing or laughing, hoarseness of voice, weight loss, persistent chest pain, and frequent lung infections.
Will a Chest X-Ray Show Lung Cancer?
When diagnosing lung cancer, chest X-rays do not provide a definitive diagnosis of lung cancers at an early stage (when they are more treatable). Until the lung cancer shows up on a chest X-ray, the tumor is often too far advanced to be cured. Often, many things seen on a chest X-ray turn out to be treatable problems or artifacts.