Will achieving our mission benefit all neuroendocrine tumor patients?

Yes, the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation will benefit all neuroendocrine tumor patients by achieving its mission.

All neuroendocrine tumors are genetic.  Unfortunately, people frequently confuse "genetic" with "hereditary".

"Genetic" means that a genetic mutation occurs in your body that disrupts the replication of normal cells and gives rise to tumor cells.  Scientists estimate that 90-95% of all cancer is caused by genetic mutations that occur during a person's lifetime--i.e., "genetic".  It is not passed from parents to children--i.e., "hereditary".

Novartis, the manufacturer of Sandostatin, explains in "Causes of Cancer" that all cancer is genetic and is nearly always based on genetic mutations that occur during a person's lifetime, not hereditary:

"Scientific studies indicate that 90% to 95% of all cancers, including breast, lung, stomach, colon, skin, or prostate, are not inherited from parents except in a few rare families in which members do inherit one or more cancer-susceptibility genes.  Confusion often stems from misunderstanding the meanings of the words 'genetic' and 'inherited'.

The genes in the chromosomes of any cell of your body, such as skin, lung, or stomach cells, can be chemically changed by environmental agents.  These genetic changes in skin, lung, or stomach cells may transform them into cancer cells.  Thus, cancer is a genetic disease in that genes are changed in a person's body cells; however, it is not an inherited disease because defective genes were not passed on from parents in most cases."

The American Society of Clinical Oncology provides its own clarification of "genetic" versus "hereditary" in "The Genetics of Cancer":

"When working properly, genes promote a normal, controlled growth of cells.  When the gene becomes altered (mutated), cancer can develop.  ... Most cancer cases are caused by a series of genetic mutations that develop during a person's lifetime.  These mutations are called acquired mutations because they are not inherited.  Rather, acquired mutations could be caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins or cancer-causing agents."

Therefore, the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation is funding leading scientists to determine the genetic mutations that cause neuroendocrine tumors.  This research will lead to new, targeted therapies that deactivate those genetic mutations.

As a result, achieving our mission will benefit all neuroendorine tumor patients.