Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)

Cancer risk

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)

Cancer risk star_border Save this page

Even if you have already been treated for cancer, reducing your risk factors may lower the chance of your cancer coming back.

You might also want to talk to your family members about reducing their cancer risk.

What are risk factors?

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting cancer. 

Having a risk factor doesn't mean you will definitely develop cancer but it means you are more likely to get it than someone without the risk factor. For example, people who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to get lung cancer than those who don’t.

Neuroendocrine tumour risk factors

The cause of most NETs is unknown, and no avoidable risk factors have been shown to increase the risk of developing NETs.

People with some inherited conditions have an increased risk of developing NETs. These include:

  • multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 2 (MEN1 and MEN2)
  • Von Hippel-Lindau disease
  • neurofibromatosis
  • tuberous sclerosis.

Where to get help

There are people you can talk to for more information or support.

My notes: