This type of cancer is a slow-growing tumor. It forms in the walls of the large airways near the center of the lungs, or in the smaller airways near the lungs' outer edges. Carcinoid tumors are less common than many other forms of cancer. Some carcinoid tumors can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body.
Doctors don't know the exact cause of carcinoid tumors. They develop when cells mutate and begin to grow and divide abnormally. Certain factors can raise your risk of the disease. It is more common in older people, in women, and in people who have a family history of a rare inherited disorder called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.
Symptoms of carcinoid tumor may include chest pain, shortness of breath and wheezing. You may experience weight gain and marks on the skin that look like stretch marks. If you have a type of lung carcinoid tumor that releases a hormone-like substance, you may have diarrhea and redness or warmth in the skin of the face and neck.
Treatment options include surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy may also be used. Your doctor can develop a treatment plan that is right for your needs.