About Us
We are New Zealand's national charity focused on supporting neuroendocrine cancer patients and their whānau. We provide education and support to help Kiwis with neuroendocrine cancer to live their best life. We also build knowledge and awareness of the disease amongst the medical community. Our fundraising and advocacy means that New Zealanders now have access to state of the art diagnostics and treatment. We provide a link between patients and researchers who are working to better understand and treat this uncommon group of cancers.
What are NETs?
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) is the umbrella term for a group of unusual, often slow-growing cancers. The term neuroendocrine implies that these cells have received some nervous connections, (neuro- ) and the cells have the ability to secrete hormones (endocrine).
NETs can start almost anywhere in the body, but most commonly found in the digestive system, lungs, pancreas and reproductive organs. These tumours develop from secretory cells found throughout the body and which are particularly concentrated in the gastrointestinal system.