Mary, Ireland

I had experienced symptoms of chest infections, diarrhoea, flushing, wheezing, unexplained weight gain, swollen ankles.
I attended my GP when I started getting severe chest pain. My GP thought I had gallstones. A CT scan confirmed that I did have gallstones. It also showed multiple tumours in my lower right lung. Upon further tests and scans I was diagnosed with Lung Neuroendocrine Cancer and carcinoid-syndrome.

The biggest challenges living with cancer is the strain having major surgeries can have on your body and mind. The emotional toll of being ill most days can effect you and your loved one. Navigating the health system can be very hard as when you have a different type of cancer you don't receive the same care and have a back up system like other cancer patients.

Neuroendocrine Cancer Ireland/NET Patient Network support group has been so beneficial to me as it's good to talk to people who are experiencing the same situations that you are.

I feel their needs to be more knowledgeable about Neuroendocrine Cancer throughout the medical professionals, so that people can receive an early diagnosis that can help save someone's life.
We need to ensure that people who have Neuroendocrine cancer receive the same care and treatment options as other cancer patients.

My advice would be that GP'S need to listen to their patient's if someone is attending their practice fir many years with multiple ailments instead of just writing prescription they do a detailed investigation and follow-up on the patient.
Every GP and health care professionals need to know the symptoms of neuroendocrine cancer.