Today, Irrfan Khan put an end to speculation about his health condition, revealing that he had been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour. He shared that it has been difficult and he will proceed abroad for further treatment.

“As for the rumours that were floated NEURO is not always about the brain and googling is the easiest way to do research,” he commented with a touch of sarcasm.

Naturally, curiosity is now high as to what exactly the condition is…

Neuroendocrine tumour is basically a condition in which an abnormal tissue growth arises in the hormone producing nervous cells (or neuroendocrine cells) of the body. Such tumours can develop in the intestines, where they are the most common, in the lungs, pancreas or anywhere in the rest of the body.

An endocrine tumour refers to the development of tumours in the hormone-producing or the endocrine cells of the body. But when those cells are also nerve cells, the condition becomes neuroendocrine tumour.

Whether or not the tumour is serious depends on if it is benign or malignant. This depends on the affected body part and if the growth has spread to and affected other parts of the body.

Recommended Read: Irrfan opens up about his illness – ‘Been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour’

There can be many types of NET depending on the affected organ. While

Pheochromocytoma is to do with the chromaffin cells that produce adrenaline and is related to the times of stress, Merkel cell cancer is a rare and fast-growing cancer that starts in cells just under the skin and in the hair follicles. Also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, it usually affects the neck and head. Neuroendocrine carcinoma can also develop in other areas such as the gastrointestinal tract lungs and brain.

The stage at which the tumour is detected determines the outcome. Stage includes size of the tumour and where the tumour is in the body.

We wish Irrfan a speedy recovery. Like he says, “To those who waited for my words, I hope to be back with more stories to tell.”