Neuroblastoma is one of the most common types of cancer affecting the sympathetic nervous system.
This article covers the types of neuroblastoma, its symptoms, and causes.
It also addresses diagnosis and treatment.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
However, the tumors can form anywhere that there are immature sympathetic nerve cells.
If the tumors spread to other parts of the body, it tends to cause more severe illness.
In many cases, the symptoms will likely not be a cause for concern.
What Is the Root Cause of Neuroblastoma?
Sometimes, the neuroblasts remain undeveloped and continue to multiply.
When this happens, a neuroblastoma forms.
The immature nerve cells usually mature or die off.
Even when a neuroblastoma forms, it will often go away on its own.
However, neuroblastomas sometimes continue to grow and become malignant cancer.
Genes sometimes mutate spontaneously for reasons that are not fully understood.
When this happens, a child develops neuroblastoma even though no one else in their family has the disease.
They will also want to determine whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized).
Your childs provider will discuss your treatment options.
The older the child is, the less likely it is that neuroblastomas will resolve on their own.
In this case, treatment can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.
In this case, your child might not require other types of treatment.
During the surgery, a surgeon uses tools to physically remove cancer cells from the body.
Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams (such as X-rays) to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves medications that travel throughout the body to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.
The medications can be taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle.
What Is the Survival Rate for Neuroblastoma?
Low-risk tumors have the highest cure rate:
It is important to remember that all cases are unique.
Reaching out for support is important.
Tumors develop in immature nerve cells in the neck, chest, belly, pelvis, or spinal cord.
A genetic mutation leads to neuroblastoma but the cause of this mutation is unknown.
Symptoms include a mass or lump, dark circles around the eyes, and loss of appetite.
Treatment typically involves surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
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American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy for neuroblastoma.
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American Cancer Society.Neuroblastoma Survival Rates by Risk Group.
