What is carcinoid syndrome?

Carcinoid syndrome occurs when a rare cancerous tumor called a carcinoid tumor secretes certain chemicals into your bloodstream, causing a variety of signs and symptoms. A carcinoid tumor, which is a type of neuroendocrine tumor, occurs most often in the gastrointestinal tract or the lungs.

Can carcinoid tumors be cured?

Most patients with resectable lung carcinoid tumors are cured with surgery alone and don’t need other treatments. Some experts recommend further treatment for people with an atypical carcinoid that has spread to lymph nodes. This can be chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both.

Are appendix tumors benign?

The appendix can be the site of growths or tumors that may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). An adenoma is a benign tumor. Cancer of the appendix, also called appendiceal cancer, is rare and includes carcinoid tumors, non-carcinoid tumors, pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) and adenocarcinoid tumors.

What does it mean when you have a mass on your appendix?

Appendix cancer occurs when healthy cells in the appendix change and grow out of control. These cells form a growth of tissue, called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body.

What is the prognosis for cancer of the appendix?

The survival rate and outlook are generally good for most people with early stage appendix cancer. In most cases, appendix cancer goes undetected until an appendectomy is already being performed for other reasons. After any cancer diagnosis, it’s important to follow up regularly with your doctor to be sure there’s no recurrence of cancer.

What causes cancer in the appendix?

Appendix cancer is sometimes called appendiceal cancer. It occurs when healthy cells become abnormal and grow rapidly. These cancerous cells become a mass or tumor inside the appendix. When the tumor is malignant, it’s considered cancerous. Appendix cancer is considered very rare.

What is the treatment for cancer of the appendix?

This is the main treatment for appendix cancer. Chemotherapy may be used with surgery. The type of surgery depends on the type of appendix cancer. Carcinoid tumors: Often, surgery is done to remove the appendix, right colon and surrounding lymph nodes.

Where does appendix cancer spread?

Sometimes it may start in another part of the bowel, the bladder or the ovaries. The cancer makes a jelly-like liquid called mucin. Eventually the cancer and mucin break out of the appendix (or wherever it is growing). They spread into the space inside the peritoneum (the peritoneal space).