Neuroendocrine Tumor

An estimated 8,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor that starts in the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach, intestine, appendix, colon, or rectum) each year. The overall five-year survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with neuroendocrine tumors varies and depends on several factors; check the section for the specific type of neuroendocrine tumor (see Overview) for more information.

More than 1,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with Merkel cell cancer each year. The overall five-year survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with Merkel cell carcinoma is about 60%. It is much higher if the cancer is found early as opposed to having spread to the lymph nodes or distant parts of the body.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with a neuroendocrine tumor. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this tumor. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Sources: American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute