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Reducing your risk for neuroendocrine tumours

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Neuroendocrine tumours
  5. Risks
  6. Reducing your risk
Print

You may lower your risk of developing neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) by doing the following.

Find out if you’re at high risk

Some people with certain conditions have a higher than average risk for developing some types of NETs. Talk to your doctor about your risk. If you are at higher than average risk, you may need a personal plan for testing. This may include genetic risk assessment and testing for certain hereditary conditions, which are disorders that are passed from a parent to their child through genes.

Find out more about genetic testing.

Be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke

Living smoke-free significantly reduces the risk of developing many cancers and may reduce the risk of developing NETs. If you smoke, get help to quit.

Find out more about smoking and tobacco.

Expert review and references

  • Boffetta P, Hazelton WD, Chen Y et al. Body mass, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and risk of cancer of the small intestine - a pooled analysis of over 500,000 subjects in the Asia Cohort Consortium. Annals of Oncology. 2012. http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/7/1894.long.
  • Haugvik SP, Hedenstrom P, Korsaeth E et al. Diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, and family history of cancer as risk factors for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroendocrinology. 2015. http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/375164.
  • Leoncini E, Carioli G, La Vecchia C, Boccia S, Rindi G. Risk factors for neuroendocrine neoplasms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Oncology. 2016.
  • Minnetti M, Grossman A. Somatic and germline mutations in NETs: implications for their diagnosis and management. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2016.
  • Norton JA, Kunz PL. Multiple endocrine neoplasias. Devita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA (eds.). Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015: 87:1227-1233.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

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