Patient-reported experience of diagnosis, management, and burden of neuroendocrine tumors: Results from a large patient survey in the United States

Objectives: The aim of this survey was to examine the experience of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) to raise awareness of the NET-related burden and identify unmet needs. Here, we report data from patients in the United States. Methods: Patients with NETs participated in a 25-minute anonymous survey, conducted primarily online from February to May 2014. Survey questions captured information on sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, NET diagnostic experience, disease impact/management, interaction with medical teams, and NETs knowledge/awareness. Results: Of 1928 patients who participated globally, the largest percentage was from the United States (39%). Approximately 50% of US patients reported being diagnosed with other conditions before receiving their NET diagnosis, which for 34% took 5 years or more. Patients experienced many symptoms on a daily basis as a result of NETs, which hada substantial negative impact on their work and daily lives. Numerous improvements were suggested by patients, including better access to NET-specific treatments and medical teams/centers and better education for the management of disease-related and treatment-related symptoms. Conclusions: This survey demonstrated the significant burden of NETs on patients' lives and identified key areas for improvement in diagnosis and long-term management, including better access to NET-specific treatments and specialist medical teams/centers.