Neuroblastoma is the most common type of cancer in children, with symptoms including fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, and lumps under the skin. Early diagnosis is difficult, but if caught early, treatment can be successful. Chemotherapy is often used, but can have long-term effects on a child’s developing body. Parents should monitor any recurring or bothersome symptoms and seek medical attention.
When children are diagnosed with cancer, the type is most often neuroblastoma. A neuroblastoma develops from nerve cells throughout the body, but more often from cells in and around the adrenal glands.
Approximately 650 people are diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year, and most of these patients are children. Neuroblastoma is rarely diagnosed in adults. The signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma vary, but often include fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, and lumps under the skin, especially in the chest area.
The difficulty with neuroblastoma lies in early diagnosis. Early symptoms can be so vague that they aren’t noticed until the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body. Neuroblastoma is usually diagnosed by bone biopsy or marrow aspiration. It is then “staged” or evaluated based on the severity and level of metastasis.
If neuroblastoma is found early, treatment is often very successful. However, the prognosis is not as good in the later stages. Treatment depends on the staging. Surgery may be possible for earlier stages of neuroblastoma. Chemotherapy and radiation are indicated for more advanced cancers, and stem cell transplants may also be an option.
Children generally respond more readily to chemotherapy than adults, making it the treatment of choice for most cancers. However, chemotherapy can also have long-term effects on a child’s developing body, making long-term follow-up care critical. Most children diagnosed with neuroblastoma will see a pediatric oncologist, who will help manage your child’s immediate and long-term care.
While cancer in children is fairly rare, parents shouldn’t ignore the worrying signs. Sometimes, that feeling that something is “not right” with a child could lead to a crucial diagnosis. Parents should always insist that their child’s pediatrician monitor any recurring or bothersome symptoms closely. As is the case with nearly all cancers, early diagnosis and early treatment greatly increase the chances of a cure.
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