In medical school, doctors are taught “when hearing hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras”. Neuroendocrine cancers were previously considered to be ‘rare’ and therefore could be called a zebra. However, with greater awareness and quicker diagnosis neuroendocrine cancers are proving to be not as rare as previously thought.

The Canadian Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (CNETS) was formed in 2007 to assist the Canadian community, primarily patients, with this type of disease.

Another interpretation of why the zebra is our mascot is all zebras have their own pattern of stripes – none are the same.

NET cancer patients are also unique in that the diagnosis and treatment of NET cancer can look different in each person.