Cancer

Tips to Support a Loved One Getting Treatment for GEP-NET

Here are some of the ways to best help your loved one who is diagnosed with a gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (GEP-NET).

Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Updated on June 10, 2024

Featuring Kimberly Perez, MDReviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD | June 7, 2024

When your loved one is diagnosed with a gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, or GEP-NET, it may help to find community as they manage this rare form of cancer.

“There’s not a lot of support or public support surrounding [GEP-NET] because not many people know about it,” says Kimberly Perez, MD, Medical Oncologist with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

What are ways to support your loved one with a GEP-NET?

1. Learn about the condition

One of the best things you can do for your loved one when they have GEP-NETs, tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, is to learn about the disease. This may help you become a better advocate for your loved one.

“Act as a team and learn so that […] they can bounce questions off of you, and you can both advocate for your loved one,” says Perez. This “can make the journey much more manageable.”

2. Be a good listener

It’s also important to be a good listener when it comes to their concerns about their diagnosis. In some cases, your loved one may need to speak with a mental health professional about their feelings.

3. Attend their doctor appointments with them

Another great way to help your loved one with GEP-NETs is to go with them to their doctor appointments. This way, you can both keep on top of all the information that’s discussed there.

“A lot is discussed during the visit,” Perez explains. “There’s a lot that the patient wants to share and may forget to share.”

4. Be familiar with what side effects they may expect

Try to be aware of what kinds of side effects your loved one can expect from their GEP-NET. And do your best to find ways to reduce their stress, whether it’s helping them out around the house or just listening to them.

5. Practice self-care

As you support your loved one with their GEP-NETs journey, remember that you need to carve out time to take care of yourself, too.

“You will not be able to be your loved one’s best advocate if you are not well yourself,” Perez says. “I encourage caregivers and loved ones to participate in support groups.”

References

American Cancer Society. (2018). Treatment of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, by extent of disease.

American Cancer Society. (2023). Understanding the cancer experience when you’re a caregiver.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.