Luckily, there are many treatments for neuroblastoma in children. Some of the treatments include chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, these treatments can have serious side effects. These side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea.
These side effects can also be life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to discuss these side effects with your child’s physician to determine which treatment would be best for your child.
Diagnosis
Among the various cancers that occur in children, neuroblastoma is the most common. The tumor begins in the nerve tissues of the adrenal gland, and it spreads to other areas of the body. It can occur in the nerve tissues in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The tumor is most common in children younger than five years old.
A child with neuroblastoma is closely watched for signs of the tumor. A lump in the abdomen or neck may be a sign. The tumor may also spread to the bones, brain, and lymph nodes. It is important to get a doctor’s opinion as soon as possible.
If a child has neuroblastoma, there is a good chance that it will respond to treatment. Treatment can range from observation to aggressive multimodal systemic therapy. It is important to find a doctor who has experience treating neuroblastoma patients. This doctor will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for your child.
Treatments are based on the patient’s age, risk groups, and the stage of the disease. Patients with high-risk neuroblastomas are treated more aggressively than others. It is also important to find out whether the tumor has any chromosomal abnormalities.
The doctor may use various tests to diagnose neuroblastoma, including a chest x-ray, a urine test, and blood chemistry tests. These tests will give information about the function of the kidneys, liver, and red and white blood cells.
The doctor may also perform a biopsy, which is a procedure to remove tumor cells. The biopsy will help to confirm the diagnosis of neuroblastoma. The type of biopsy used will depend on the location and size of the tumor.
Chemotherapy is used to stop cancer cells from dividing. It is administered either intravenously or orally. In some cases, a tumor is removed through surgery. The amount of chemotherapy that is given depends on the type of neuroblastoma and the degree of maturity of the cancer cells.
Other treatments include radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays. It can be used to treat the tumor that has spread to the bone marrow.
Treatment
Depending on the age and location of the tumor, the treatment of neuroblastoma in children may vary. If the tumor is found early on, chemotherapy is the standard treatment. If the tumor has developed at a later stage, the treatment may include surgery or radiation therapy.
Treatment of neuroblastoma in children may be very different from that of adults. It is not clear why these tumors develop in children. However, genetic mutations are believed to play a role in their development. It is also believed that some neuroblasts may diverge abnormally to form solid tumors.
The treatment of neuroblastoma in children includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery is performed to remove the tumor. If it has not yet developed, doctors may use X-rays or ultrasounds to see if the tumor is present. They may also ask questions about the child’s medical history to establish a diagnosis.
X-rays, ultrasound, and bone marrow tests are used to determine the extent of the disease. Patients are grouped based on the International Neuroblastoma Staging System. They are further categorized into higher and lower-risk groups based on the tumor’s resectability and relapse risk.
Patients who have a high relapse risk may require high-dose chemotherapy and immunotherapy. High-risk patients may also require autologous bone marrow transplantation.
High-risk neuroblastomas are very difficult to treat. The prognosis is poor. Research is ongoing to find better treatments. A combination of drugs is usually the most effective against cancer cells. Some experimental treatments include CAR T cell immunotherapy and dinutuximab.
Treatment of neuroblastoma may also include high-energy radiation. These can be administered directly to the primary tumor site or after chemotherapy. X-rays and ultrasounds are often used to detect metastases. A child may be referred to a specialist for further diagnosis.
Treatment of neuroblastoma can be very difficult for both the patient and the family. However, more and more children are now cured than in the past. The International Neuroblastoma Staging System is designed to help specialists determine the degree of malignancy and determine whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Side effects
Symptoms of neuroblastoma in children can be confusing. They are similar to those of more common childhood diseases. However, it is important to remember that neuroblastoma is cancer. There are many treatment options for it. These include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Each treatment has its own possible side effects.
Children with neuroblastoma have a high risk for relapse. Relapses are most common within the first two years after treatment. As time passes, the likelihood of relapse decreases. It is important to maintain lifelong surveillance for all neuroblastoma survivors.
Treatment options for neuroblastoma in children are dependent on the age of the child and the type of tumor. In some cases, surgery is used to remove the tumor. However, in others, the tumor may remain. In these cases, chemotherapy may be used to shrink the tumor before surgery. In other cases, surgery may be used alone to remove the tumor.
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that starts in immature nerve cells. It may develop in the adrenal glands or in the sympathetic nervous system. It often develops in newborns. The disease may also spread to other parts of the body. It can cause pain and can press on the spinal cord.
Children who have high-risk neuroblastoma are treated with intensive treatment. These treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. These treatments are meant to shrink the tumor and stop it from multiplying. There are also several clinical trials that are testing new drugs to improve treatment.
Patients with low-risk neuroblastoma tumors do not require immediate treatment. However, they are checked periodically for signs of cancer. These children are monitored for changes in behavior, eating habits, and physical activity. They may also be required to take medications for side effects. They are also monitored for signs of heart damage.
Survivors of neuroblastoma have an increased risk for psychological distress. They also have an increased risk for valvular abnormalities and congestive heart failure. There is also an increased risk of developing benign subsequent neoplasms. These tumors can include osteochondromas, hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia, and osteocartilaginous exostoses. These tumors can be detected by routine surveillance imaging.
Clinical trials
Among all cancers, neuroblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Children diagnosed with this disease have a less than 50% chance of survival. Treatment is often limited to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Doctors are searching for new treatments that will improve survival rates.
Several clinical trials are underway to find better treatments. The NCI sponsors these trials. They are research studies designed to determine the effectiveness of new treatments for neuroblastoma. In addition, they study the effects of treatments on patients.
In order to participate in a neuroblastoma clinical trial, children must meet certain criteria. They must be aged 19 or younger, and have had histologic proof of the disease for at least 365 days. They must also have MYCN amplification, which means that the tumor has at least 10 copies of the MYCN gene. They must also have a positive bone marrow for tumor cells. They must have an AST of at least three times the upper limit of normal for their age. They also must have adequate renal function.
Research shows that children with high-risk neuroblastoma have a lower survival rate. They have a higher incidence of unfavorable features than low-risk neuroblastoma patients.
The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) enrolled 6029 high-risk neuroblastoma patients in clinical trials. Two-thirds of them were enrolled in early-phase trials. The other third were enrolled in biology studies.
Phase III clinical trials are designed to compare two neuroblastoma treatments. They often require large numbers of patients. The COG typically enrolls newly diagnosed patients in these trials.
The National Cancer Institute sponsors the trials and financially supports them. They are approved by ethics committees. They are reviewed on an ongoing basis. They are conducted by large cooperative groups, but smaller institutions may also conduct them.
Phase III trials usually enroll 300-500 patients. They use the most effective treatments available against neuroblastoma. They are usually randomized. They use international consensus criteria to determine evaluability and response criteria.
Neuroblastoma clinical trials may also be performed to study non-therapeutic issues, such as the causes of the disease and how it affects patients. They may also study the late effects of treatment.
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