Neuroblastoma
What is it?
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nerve cells most commonly found in children under the age of 5 years old.
These nerve cells are part of the system in the body that helps control different processes in the body from breathing to digestion. These specific, or specialized, nerve cells (also called neuroblasts) are excess nerve cells left behind in the young child from development in the womb.
Neuroblastoma is most commonly found in the adrenal glands (these sit on top of the kidneys), however the cancer can also begin in the tummy, chest, neck and near the spine.
Some neuroblastomas can develop really slowly while others can progress very quickly.
Tell me more.
If a neuroblastoma is found in babies under 18 months old, the cancer is often a less aggressive form of cancer and may even go away on its own without any treatment.
If the neuroblastoma is diagnosed after 18 months old, then there is a higher cancer that the cancer may be more aggressive.
Once the child is recieving treatment, if the cancer continues to grow, then it is called progressive neuroblastoma.
After treatment if the cancer returns, then it will be called recurrent neuroblastoma.
What makes a child more likely to be diagnosed?
Doctors have not been able to identify specific risk factors for children who may be more likely to get neuroblastoma, however in a small amount of cases, family history of a neuroblastoma may increase your child's chance of being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
If you suspect that your child may have neuroblastoma based on his or her symptoms, a doctor will take him/her through a few tests to get to the root of the cause.
Diagnosis & Treatment
A physical exam may be performed to check if the doctor sees anything abnormal followed by a blood and urine test. In the blood and urine tests, the doctors will look for a specific chemical that may show up if the child has neuroblastoma. If the blood and urine tests come back abnormal, the medical professional may choose to do some imaging tests with a CT scan, an MRI, an ultrasound, or another form of imaging.
From there if there is a mass found, the doctor will take a sample of tissue from the tumor (biopsy), and may also take a sample of bone marrow (spongy material inside the bone that creates blood cells) to see if the cancer has spread there as well.
Treatment for neuroblastoma will depend on:
- the childs age
- location and size of the tumor
- stage of cancer (0-4 which indicates how advanced or how much the cancer has spread)
- the speed in which the neuroblastoma grows
- any other abnormalities
Surgery is often used first to remove the cancer. The surgeon may be able to remove all of the cancer with no other treatment required, or the surgeon may only be able to remove a portion of the cancer.
Chemotherapy will often be used before cancer to shrink the tumors and kill cancer cells that are spreading to other parts of the body.
If surgery and chemo are not successful, radiation may also be considered to fight off the cancer. Similarly, if surgery and chemo are successful but the cancer is aggressive, radiation may also be used to ensure the cancer does not come back.
Advanced neuroblastoma can also be treated with something called MIBG radiotherapy. This is a radioactive chemical that is injected into the bloodstream that attacks neuroblastoma cells in the body.
If the neuroblastoma is resistent to other treatments, a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant) will be done to collect stem cells from the body, then give the body chemotherapy to kill the unhealthy bone marrow and inject the previously removed stem cells to reform healthy bone marrow and blood cells.
Lastly if other treatments aren't effective, ask the doctor about retinoid therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy to see if these are good options for your childs case. There are always new treatments being developed, so it's important to cover all your possible options.
What is it?
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nerve cells most commonly found in children under the age of 5 years old.
These nerve cells are part of the system in the body that helps control different processes in the body from breathing to digestion. These specific, or specialized, nerve cells (also called neuroblasts) are excess nerve cells left behind in the young child from development in the womb.
Neuroblastoma is most commonly found in the adrenal glands (these sit on top of the kidneys), however the cancer can also begin in the tummy, chest, neck and near the spine.
Some neuroblastomas can develop really slowly while others can progress very quickly.
Tell me more.
If a neuroblastoma is found in babies under 18 months old, the cancer is often a less aggressive form of cancer and may even go away on its own without any treatment.
If the neuroblastoma is diagnosed after 18 months old, then there is a higher cancer that the cancer may be more aggressive.
Once the child is recieving treatment, if the cancer continues to grow, then it is called progressive neuroblastoma.
After treatment if the cancer returns, then it will be called recurrent neuroblastoma.
What makes a child more likely to be diagnosed?
Doctors have not been able to identify specific risk factors for children who may be more likely to get neuroblastoma, however in a small amount of cases, family history of a neuroblastoma may increase your child's chance of being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
If you suspect that your child may have neuroblastoma based on his or her symptoms, a doctor will take him/her through a few tests to get to the root of the cause.
Diagnosis & Treatment
A physical exam may be performed to check if the doctor sees anything abnormal followed by a blood and urine test. In the blood and urine tests, the doctors will look for a specific chemical that may show up if the child has neuroblastoma. If the blood and urine tests come back abnormal, the medical professional may choose to do some imaging tests with a CT scan, an MRI, an ultrasound, or another form of imaging.
From there if there is a mass found, the doctor will take a sample of tissue from the tumor (biopsy), and may also take a sample of bone marrow (spongy material inside the bone that creates blood cells) to see if the cancer has spread there as well.
Treatment for neuroblastoma will depend on:
- the childs age
- location and size of the tumor
- stage of cancer (0-4 which indicates how advanced or how much the cancer has spread)
- the speed in which the neuroblastoma grows
- any other abnormalities
Surgery is often used first to remove the cancer. The surgeon may be able to remove all of the cancer with no other treatment required, or the surgeon may only be able to remove a portion of the cancer.
Chemotherapy will often be used before cancer to shrink the tumors and kill cancer cells that are spreading to other parts of the body.
If surgery and chemo are not successful, radiation may also be considered to fight off the cancer. Similarly, if surgery and chemo are successful but the cancer is aggressive, radiation may also be used to ensure the cancer does not come back.
Advanced neuroblastoma can also be treated with something called MIBG radiotherapy. This is a radioactive chemical that is injected into the bloodstream that attacks neuroblastoma cells in the body.
If the neuroblastoma is resistent to other treatments, a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant) will be done to collect stem cells from the body, then give the body chemotherapy to kill the unhealthy bone marrow and inject the previously removed stem cells to reform healthy bone marrow and blood cells.
Lastly if other treatments aren't effective, ask the doctor about retinoid therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy to see if these are good options for your childs case. There are always new treatments being developed, so it's important to cover all your possible options.
Symptom list:
Neuroblastoma
Financial support
Not all of us are able to afford the treatment we need. Search your insurance coverage, or check out what charities may be able to offer you for your condition.
p.s. Just because you have insurance, that doesn't mean that charities or other organizations are not able to support you too.
Emotional support
Whether it's a free counseling session or to find someone with a similar diagnosis, these Germie approved charities might be able to help. Click to explore their offerings!
