Updated 24 Dec 2025 Novo Nordisk A/S: Wegovy® pill approved in the US as first oral GLP-1 for weight management Click here to read more Background This subject of semaglutide (e.g. Ozempic) is appearing regularly in my private Facebook group, and I can see there might be some confusion out there.  But first, I wanted to state that this post is not about me saying semaglutide (or whatever brand names are included in this post) is something you should be taking or not.

UPDATE 23rd December 2025. (Originally published Apr 2021).  Phase 3 trial to commence soon (clinical trials reference detail to follow) Sydney, Australia 22 December 2025 Clarity Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CU6) (“Clarity” or “Company”), a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company with a mission to develop next-generation products that improve treatment outcomes for patients with cancer, is pleased to announce it will be commencing a pivotal Phase III registrational trial of its 64Cu-SARTATE diagnostic agent in patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).

First published August 2017 but updated several times UPDATED TO INCUDE PUBLISHED US FIGURES IN 2025 OPINION I found some of the quotes from the recent NET SEER Database study (Dasari et al) very interesting.  The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program is a comprehensive source of population-based information initiated in 1973 that is updated annually. Although the study is US-based, it represents the largest study of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) ever recorded and is therefore a good guide to what might be found beyond USA.

What is Targeted Alpha-emitter Therapy? Regular PRRT which is authorised for use now, i.e. Lutathera/Lu177 is a beta therapy.  Targeted Alpha Therapy is based on the coupling of alpha particle emitting radioisotopes to tumour selective carrier molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies or peptides. These molecules have the ability to selectively target tumour cells even if they are spread throughout the body.

What is Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)? External beam radiotherapy has been around for a while. But the next generation equipment and techniques are gradually being deployed.   It's a confusing area with many synonyms which I found when I wrote about the subject in a treatment summary for patients.  Some of the sub-components/synonyms may be familiar to you and are often used interchangeably with SBRT; but are actually a brand name (e.g.Cyberknife) or a type (e.g.

The riddle. For many years, I've been reading and blogging about Neuroendocrine Neoplasms, NENs for short.  NEN is a relatively new term which came after my diagnosis.  Nomenclature is still evolving and there is always something to learn. It's also true to say the term 'Neuroendocrine Neoplasms' is the same as saying 'Neuroendocrine Cancer'. These neoplasms are cancers that begin in specialised cells called 'neuroendocrine cells'.

On 9th December 2024, I celebrated 14 years of Lanreotide - click here to read about that. Update 11th Jan 2024.  Ipsen decided to change the name for Somatuline Autogel to Lanreotide Ipsen.  Clearly to distinguish its product from the generics now rolling out.  Not seen similar yet for Somatuline Depot (US).  My Lanreotide Experience When I was discharged from hospital…

Update 14th December 2025 - Results from the Phase 0 proof of concept trial.   Conclusion Tb-DOTA-LM3 shows a 7.6-fold-higher tumor absorbed dose than that found when using Lu-DOTATOC. The tumor–to–bone marrow absorbed dose ratio was in the same range for both radiopharmaceuticals. The promising dosimetry and safety results from this phase 0 study will lay the foundation for further clinical development of Tb-DOTA-LM3.

Update 8th Dec 2025. Hot off the press.  New York State Department of Health Grants Approval of Wren Laboratories’ NETest® 2.0 for Clinical Use Clinically Validated Performance In validation across 3,042 NET patients and 1,084 controls/other cancers, NETest 2.0 demonstrated: Sensitivity: 93%• Specificity: 85%• Positive predictive value: 95%• Negative predictive value: 82%• Overall accuracy: 91%

When I was diagnosed, I didn't even feel ill. It was therefore a bit of a shock being told I had metastatic cancer, advanced enough to kill me without treatment. It was hiding But it did make me think back to some minor irritants, or to be accurate what I thought were minor irritants, things that I could not explain, things that I did not think were serious enough to speak to a doctor. 

On the day I was diagnosed, I hadn't really thought about questions, the only one I actually remember asking was "how long do I have left to live" (I watch too many movies!). On the day of diagnosis and period beyond, people tend to feel emotions of shock, denial, anger, and sadness, before going on to accept their situation. Yes, I '

Opinion: Before I was diagnosed with cancer, my health was in reasonable condition. I had minor irritants that seemed to come back now and then, nothing that was going to kill me. So I just put up with most of it and time was frequently a good healer. Occasionally, I would use medicine to speed up the healing or ask a doctor for advice.

Update November 2025. This new document from the same surgeon and NET team below has further justified why they now adopt a totally different approach to nearly everyone else and they can back it up with evidence. This followed the updated blog below "Do we need a new model for carcinoid crisis in NETs?".  It looks like they have deployed this 'new model' given their statement "

Edited and reviewed 4th September 2024 My own experience At my diagnostic consultation, the Oncologist told me I had Stage 4 metastatic Small Intestine NET (SI NET). He also told me that surgery would almost definitely be on the cards and would be referring me to an experienced surgeon in a different hospital for assessment. I was assured this surgeon was one of the most experienced in the south of England for NETs.

BREAKING NEWS    I recently blogged about a well-known BBC political reporter who has Neuroendocrine Cancer with a Lung Primary.  However, in the usual media 'double speak' which can sometimes pervade the coverage of such events, he is said to have Lung Cancer.  As I said in that article, sometimes with Neuroendocrine Cancer - the devil is in the detail and you just need to dig to find it.

Over the years of my advocating, I've tried to explain Neuroendocrine Cancer to many people outside the community.  Some 'get it' but many don't.  Most understand 'Cancer', but they have real difficulty understanding 'Neuroendocrine'.  Despite how hard I try, I can see that some of them just don't get it!  I told someone I had a primary in the small intestine once, they said "oh you have bowel cancer then?" - NO! 

Hot off the press - 22 Oct 2025 Cambridge treats first NHS cancer patient A Cambridge patient has become the first person in Europe to receive cutting-edge histotripsy treatment outside of a clinical trial, after the technology was fast-tracked by the Government - marking a major milestone in NHS cancer care. Treatment for Histotripsy Addenbrooke’s is currently setting up a referral pathway, so the histotripsy technology can be made available to patients at Addenbrooke’s and beyond.

Reframing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Beyond “Rare” Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) have outgrown the “rare disease” label. e.g. Across the U.S., UK, and Australia, they now rank among the most commonly diagnosed cancers — yet they remain under-recognised in mainstream healthcare circles, often misdiagnosed in primary and secondary care, but continue to be medically complex requiring specialist input which often arrives late.  The Global Reality - examples…

On World Neuroendocrine Cancer Day, what's wrong with a bit of Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness?  Where do I start ........  well, there are three main things wrong with Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness.  Ancient Misnomers 1.  The community remains entrenched in 1907 terminology which needs to be brought into 2022. Things have moved on so much but the use of this ancient terminology and what it infers, just keeps us marking time in the last century.

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated….. the pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence (AI) I recently discovered — to my great amusement - that someone referred to me as “the late Ronny Allan.” While I appreciate the dramatic flair, I’d like to reassure everyone that I’m still very much alive, caffeinated, and actively moderating, educating, and occasionally ranting about neuroendocrine cancer. 

OPINION When I was diagnosed, I was happy with my own research and kept away from forums on the advice of a fellow patient who said they can be overly negative. Just before my second major operation in 2011, I decided to take the plunge and registered with an online web forum (not a Facebook one). Looking back to that period, I wasn't really a major player, more of a 'lurker'.

Sincer 2015, my message has not changed.  My message continues to be justified because since then, many important voices in the NEN community have repeated it!  However, there has been, and still remains, some instransigence, although some of that has now buckled in the face of the recent US SEER statistics. However, the buckling needs to spread and expand.  Unfortuantely, some elements of the NEN communmity remain entrenched in old thinking, in flawed thinking.

Sincer 2015, my message has not changed.  My message continues to be justified because since then, many important voices in the NEN community have repeated it!  However, there has been, and still remains, some instransigence, although some of that has now buckled in the face of the recent US SEER statistics. However, the buckling needs to spread and expand.  Unfortuantely, some elements of the NEN communmity remain entrenched in old thinking, in flawed thinking.

OPINION When I was diagnosed, I was happy with my own research and kept away from forums on the advice of a fellow patient who said they can be overly negative. Just before my second major operation in 2011, I decided to take the plunge and registered with an online web forum (not a Facebook one). Looking back to that period, I wasn't really a major player, more of a 'lurker'.