Press Release

35W Bridge SHOWS OFF ITS STRIPES in Support of NET Cancer Day

MINNEAPOLIS, MN:  If the 35W Bridge appears to be wearing stripes tonight, it is! Monday, November 10 is worldwide NET Cancer Day. NET cancers, caused from rare neuroendocrine tumors or NETS, are the “zebras” of the cancer world. When doctors are in medical school, they learn when diagnosing illnesses that they should be looking for “horses,” or common disease causes, rather than “zebras,” or rare causes. NETS are rare, occurring in approximately 35 in 100,000-cancer diagnosis annually. That is why NETS are zebras, their unique stripes being a symbol of the disease.

Although they tend to be slow growing, neuroendocrine tumors can turn into cancers including Carcinoid, MEN-1, Medullary carcinoma, Insulinoma, Gastrinoma, Glucagonoma and many others arising from various organs including the lungs, pancreas, thyroid, stomach and intestinal tract. NETS frequently masquerade as other more common illnesses such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s, Asthma and even other types of cancers.  Dave Thomas of Wendy’s restaurant fame, and Steve Jobs of Apple both died from neuroendocrine cancers.  In 2014, Wilko Johnson, singer and guitarist of 1970’s British R&B group Dr. Feelgood, underwent surgery for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.  

Many doctors are unaware of NET cancers or understand how to treat them. Frequently, they have never seen a NET cancer patient. As a result, patients can go years, sometimes decades, before a proper diagnosis, usually late in the disease. While NET cancers are not curable, with early detection and proper management, they are treated as a chronic condition. By bringing awareness to this rare cancer, we hope that both patients and medical professionals are able to “see stripes” earlier in the diagnosis process.

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Formed in 1999, Northwoods NETS is a patient support and advocacy group for those living with neuroendocrine tumor cancers including Carcinoid, Islet Cell, and MEN-1. While based in the Twin Cities, Northwoods NETS provides support, information, and awareness for patients and caregivers all over Minnesota, North and South Dakota and western Wisconsin.

Learn more about Northwoods NETS at: https://www.northwoodsnets.org

Follow our Twitter Feed at:
https://twitter.com/NorthwoodsNETS

Learn more about Neuroendocrine Cancers: http://www.carcinoid.org
Learn more NET Cancer Awareness Day at: http://www.netcancerday.org

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Northwoods NETS