What are carcinoid tumors?

Carcinoid tumors are rare cancerous tumors that are difficult to treat but, if detected early enough, can be cured. These tumors usually begin in the lungs or digestive tract lining. Ideally, they commonly found in the small intestine accounting for 1/3 of tumors found in the small intestine.

The tumors tend to grow slowly in the body and do not show any symptoms during the initial stages. When the tumors secrete serotonin and histamine, they cause a person to experience diarrhea and stomach cramps. Carcinoid tumors can be cured completely during the first stages through surgery. The average age of people who suffer from carcinoid cancer is 62.