What is the leading cause of neuroblastoma?

Causes. Neuroblastoma happens when neuroblasts grow and divide out of control instead of developing into nerve cells. The exact cause of this abnormal growth is not known, but scientists believe a defect in the genes of a neuroblast allows it to divide uncontrollably.

What are risk factors for neuroblastoma?

The two biggest risk factors for neuroblastoma are age and heredity. Age: Most causes of neuroblastoma are diagnosed in children between the ages of one and two, and 90% are diagnosed before the age of 5. Heredity: 1% to 2% of neuroblastoma cases seem to be the result of a gene inherited from a parent.

Why are so many children getting neuroblastoma?

Most often, neuroblasts grow and develop into mature cells. Neuroblastomas can occur when normal fetal neuroblasts do not become mature cells, but instead continue to grow and divide. Some neuroblasts might not have matured completely by the time a baby is born.

What can be done to prevent neuroblastoma?

The risk of many adult cancers can be reduced with certain lifestyle changes (such as staying at a healthy weight or quitting smoking), but at this time there are no known ways to prevent most cancers in children. The only known risk factors for neuroblastoma cannot be changed.

What is the life expectancy of a child with neuroblastoma?

For children with low-risk neuroblastoma, the 5-year survival rate is higher than 95%. For children with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma, the 5-year survival rate is between 90% and 95%. For children with high-risk neuroblastoma, the-5-year survival rate is around 50%.

How do I know if my child has neuroblastoma?

Signs and Symptoms of Neuroblastoma

1. Lump or swelling in the child’s belly that doesn’t seem to hurt.
2. Swelling in the legs or in the upper chest, neck, and face.
3. Problems with breathing or swallowing.
4. Weight loss.
5. Not eating or complaining about feeling full.
6. Problems with bowel movements or urinating.
7. Pain in bones.

Does neuroblastoma run in families?

Neuroblastoma most often occurs in children who have no family history of the disease. This is called sporadic neuroblastoma. However, in 1–2% of cases, an increased chance of developing neuroblastoma can be inherited from a parent. This is called hereditary neuroblastoma.

Has any child survived neuroblastoma?

The 5-year survival rate for neuroblastoma is 81%. However, a child’s survival rate depends on many factors, particularly the risk grouping of the tumor. For children with low-risk neuroblastoma, the 5-year survival rate is higher than 95%.

What are the chances of neuroblastoma coming back?

It is estimated that as many as 50-60% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma will eventually suffer a relapse. In children with intermediate- or low-risk neuroblastoma, relapses occur in only 5-15% of cases.

How many rounds of chemo does it take for neuroblastoma?

Children are typically given 4 to 8 cycles (about 12 to 24 weeks) of chemotherapy before or after surgery. The chemo drugs used usually include carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide. If chemo is used first, surgery may then be done to remove any remaining tumor.

What percentage of children survive neuroblastoma?

How have they changed during that time?

How common is neuroblastoma in toddlers?

Neuroblastoma accounts for 7 to10 percent of childhood cancers. Each year, 800 new cases are diagnosed in the United States. It occurs slightly more often in boys than in girls. Neuroblastoma accounts for 50 percent of all cancers in infants, making it the most common tumor in infants younger than 1 year.

What is the prognosis for neuroblastoma?

The prognosis of neuroblastoma differs from patient to patient. The prognosis is good in younger children where the neuroblastoma hasn’t spread. About 50% of the patients have a type of neuroblastoma, which can return even after intensive cancer treatment.

Is neuroblastoma a solid tumor?

About Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor, other than brain tumors, in children. The great majority of cases affect young children before school age, with some cases beginning before birth and unusual cases first arising as late as adolescence. No environmental factors are known to cause neuroblastoma,…

Can neuroblastoma be found early?

In rare instances, neuroblastoma is found before birth during an ultrasound, a test that uses sound waves to create an image of the internal organs of a fetus. Ultrasounds are usually done to estimate the age of a fetus, predict the date of birth, and look for certain common birth defects.

What is neuroblastoma in children?

Neuroblastoma is a type of childhood cancer that develops in nerve tissue outside of the central nervous system. It usually begins in the adrenal gland on top of the kidney, but it can be found anywhere along the spine.