Understanding Carcinoid Syndrome
If you or someone you care about has carcinoid syndrome, you already know the debilitating and embarrassing impact the symptoms can have on your quality of life. To get back in charge, the first step is understanding. Most fundamentally, you need to understand that carcinoid syndrome is treatable. And that you may have the power to make things better.
This area of the site gives basic information that people with carcinoid syndrome need to know, including:
What Is Carcinoid Syndrome?
To understand what carcinoid syndrome is, you need to know what carcinoid tumors are. These are small, malignant or benign tumors that most commonly arise in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Carcinoid syndrome is the set of symptoms that may occur in patients who have carcinoid tumors. Not all people with carcinoid tumors have carcinoid syndrome. The syndrome occurs when carcinoid tumors overproduce substances such as serotonin that normally circulate throughout your body. This overproduction of serotonin and other hormones is what causes the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome.
Other (non-carcinoid) tumors can also cause symptoms similar to those of carcinoid syndrome. One such tumor is called a VIPoma. "VIP" stands for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide. VIPomas are extremely rare and can cause severe, watery diarrhea that requires immediate care.
If you have carcinoid syndrome, or diarrhea caused by a VIPoma, it is important to visit your health care provider regularly. Your health care provider will explain why it is necessary to treat your symptoms promptly and aggressively.
