November 2025

While our community of patients, caregivers, and researchers is committed to raising awareness of neuroendocrine cancer all year, this month offers a special opportunity to spread the word and accelerate research breakthroughs by making a gift to NETRF. See below for an exciting update on our November match campaign.

In December, we’re devoting our newsletter to coverage of the 2025 Margie and Robert E. Petersen Research Symposium held in Boston, November 17-19. Look out  for the best of the symposium, including research highlights, patient voices, video spotlights, and more. 

A recent review published in the Journal of Oncology Practice explores how patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) view the use and timing of radioligand therapy as part of their overall treatment journey. Read more. 

Congratulations to Dr. Dawn Quelle, NETRF Board of Scientific Advisors co-chair, and the team at the University of Iowa Health, for winning a $10.7 million Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute. This prestigious award will support the study of new, targeted therapies for neuroendocrine tumors. Read more. 

Members of the NETRF team joined hundreds of neuroendocrine cancer specialists and patient advocates at the annual meeting of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) in Austin, Texas, in October. They were among approximately 500 attendees there to discuss the latest developments in neuroendocrine clinical research and connect as a community. Read more. 

Dr. Udhayvir Singh Grewal of Emory University School of Medicine provides a breakdown of several key research findings presented at the NANETS Annual Meeting. Read more. 

Caring for someone with neuroendocrine cancer can be profoundly meaningful—but it can also impact even the strongest people in ways that often go unnoticed. This month, we're highlighting compassion fatigue, a very real emotional and physical toll that comes from caring deeply over long periods of uncertainty. This month’s Thrivership Series will help you recognize the signs, understand why it happens, and learn practical ways to restore your energy and well-being while continuing to support the person you love.

If you are interested in more caregiver resources, listen to: 

• NETWise Episode 12: The Importance of Caregivers 
• NETWise Episode 47: Care for the Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Caregiver 

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve met our Giving Tuesday match – ahead of schedule! You responded with such enthusiasm and heart, ensuring every dollar was doubled to accelerate life-changing research.

Your support fuels NETRF’s mission to find it earlier, treat it better, and cure it faster – advancing early detection, developing new therapeutic treatments, and driving precision medicine for neuroendocrine cancer.

But we can’t stop now. On average, it still takes five to seven years for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis – and that’s not ok. Every day that passes without answers is time stolen from patients and families who deserve better.

As we approach Giving Tuesday on December 2, a global day of generosity, we invite you to keep the momentum going. Even though the match has been fulfilled, your gift today continues to push research forward, bringing us closer to the breakthroughs patients urgently need. Together, we’re not stopping until we change the future of neuroendocrine cancer.

A huge thank-you to Jim Jungsten and the amazing Sheryl Strong community for hosting their Fourth Annual event on November 1, a fun-filled sports and tailgate-themed night, just the way Sheryl would have wanted. The evening featured incredible destination packages, great company, and generous support from Pinnacle Live, all to advance neuroendocrine cancer research.

Together, this inspiring community raised $52,000 this year and nearly $150,000 total since they began. Thank you for keeping Sheryl’s spirit strong and helping drive the research that brings hope to so many.

Mark your calendars for next year! The Fifth Annual Sheryl Strong event will be held on November 7, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the North Ridge Country Club in Fair Oaks, California.

Next up: join us for Zebra Steps for Patricia: A Walk for Neuroendocrine Cancer – a 5K walk (in person or virtual) on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 7 a.m. (MST) at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Arizona. Lace up, show your stripes, and help raise awareness and funds for neuroendocrine cancer research.

To learn more or get involved, contact Lucinda Lopez at lm10lopez@yahoo.com.

Inspired by these amazing communities? If you’re interested in hosting your own event to raise funds and awareness for neuroendocrine cancer research, please reach out to Steve Perna at steve.perna@netrf.org - he’d love to help you get started!

Make every purchase count! Before you dive into your holiday shopping, download the Give Freely app or add the Give Freely browser extension – both make it easy to give back while you shop at thousands of your favorite retailers. Whether you’re on your phone or computer, you’ll earn discounts while retailers automatically make donations to NETRF at no cost to you. A huge thank-you to Steve Kaufer, co-founder of Give Freely and NETRF Board member, for helping make every purchase more meaningful.

And don’t miss your chance to shop The Lindz jean, available exclusively through Citizens of Humanity now through December 31. For every pair sold, $50 is donated to NETRF, fueling innovative research and hope for those affected by neuroendocrine cancer.

This is your opportunity to be part of a global effort to improve neuroendocrine cancer care. The 2nd Survey of Challenges in Access to Diagnostics and Treatment for NET Patients (SCAN2)—launched by the International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance (INCA)—is gathering insights from NET patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to better understand the real-world challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. 

NET Research Foundation
100 Hancock Street,
Third floor
Quincy, MA 02171
(617) 946-1780 info@netrf.org

The mission of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation is to fund research to discover cures and more effective treatments for neuroendocrine cancer. NETRF is the largest global funder of neuroendocrine research and a preeminent resource for expert patient education and support.



NETRF is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.