Survival

Survival depends on many different factors. It depends on your individual condition, type of neuroendocrine tumour (NET), treatment and level of fitness. So no one can tell you exactly how long you will live. 

These are general statistics based on large groups of people. Remember, they can’t tell you what will happen in your individual case.

Your doctor can give you more information about your own outlook (prognosis).

You can also talk about this with the Cancer Research UK nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

About these statistics

The terms 1 year survival and 5 year survival don't mean that you will only live for 1 or 5 years.

The NHS, other health organisations, and researchers collect information. They watch what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.

5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis.

Survival for small bowel NET

1 Year survival

The 1 year survival statistics below are for all stages of small bowel NETs in the UK.

  • 90 out of 100 people (90%) survive for 1 year or more

There are no UK-wide 5 year survival statistics available for large bowel and rectal NETs. The statistics below are from a European study. Please be aware that due to differences in health care systems, data collection and the population, these figures may not be a true picture of survival in the UK.

5 year survival

  • Around 70 out of 100 people (around 70%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more

What affects survival?

Survival depends on many factors. It depends on the stage and grade of the NET when it was diagnosed. The stage describes the size of the tumour and whether it has spread. The grade means how abnormal the cells look under a microscope. 

It also depends on how well you are generally.

  • Impact of neuroendocrine morphology on cancer outcomes and stage at diagnosis: a UK nationwide cohort study 2013–2015
    T Genus and others
    British Journal of Cancer (2019) Volume 121, pages 966–972

  • Rare neuroendocrine tumours: Results of the surveillance of rare cancers in Europe project
    J Maartaen Van de Zwan and others
    European Journal of Cancer, 2013.  Volume 49, Issue 11, Pages 2565-2578

Last reviewed: 
10 Jun 2021
Next review due: 
11 Jun 2024

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