Wearing a Carcinoid pin is a wonderful way to raise awareness of this rare and often misunderstood disease or to simply pay tribute to someone you know who is living with Carcinoid.

This Carcinoid Awareness Pin was designed by Carol-Anne Wilson in January of 2004 and manufactured in June of 2004. Many thousands have been made and distributed throughout the United States. They have now also made their way to Australia, Africa, and Europe!

Throughout 2003 an informal online survey was held to choose "a color" for a Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Pin and much discussion took place. Eventually there was consensus to use the black and white stripes of the Zebra to represent Carcinoid.

Why the Zebra?
When medical students are going through their training they inevitably hear the phrase: "When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras."Basically this helps to illustrate the strategy of initially diagnosing the more usual diseases or problems when a patient presents with symptoms.

An all-too-common scenario for many patients with Carcinoid, however, is one where a proper diagnoses is not made for a period of time . . . very often those with Carcinoid Syndrome are diagnosed with IBS or Crohn's Disease or perhaps even allergies or heart disease, before finally the correct diagnoses is made.

Some of our expert physicians have been heard to state therefore that in the case of Carcinoid, the patients ARE the Zebras . . . the more unusual . . . and NOT the horses! One of our more colorful Carcinoid Expert Physicians is well known for telling Carcinoid patients not only are we the Zebras, but we have pink stripes with purple spots!

And so we proudly embrace our ZEBRA STRIPES!!

Pins are always available and can be purchased online here. If you require more information please send an email to:
carol-anne.wilson@carcinoid-tx.org. It would help to put 'carcinoid pins' in the subject line! Thank you.