What Is Neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma is an uncommon type of cancer that grows in the nerves. Children under the age of 5 are commonly affected, and it is less commonly seen in children above the age of 10. It affects the nervous system of the babies and the little children. They usually grow on the immature nerve tissues called the neuroblast. Neuroblastoma can occur in babies even before they are born.
What Could Cause Neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma can be formed due to the uncontrolled growth of the immature nerve tissues. Due to genetic mutation, the cells may grow out of control and divide abnormally. It usually affects the neuroblasts present on the adrenal glands, present on the top of the kidneys.
How Does a Neuroblastoma Patient Feel?
Patients with neuroblastoma may have symptoms that range from mild to severe, and they may vary depending on the tumor location, child's age, and the stage of the disease. Before the signs and symptoms could appear, the tumor would have spread to the other parts of the body.
Symptoms may include:
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Lump or bump in the neck, pelvis, chest, or abdomen, or numerous lump under the skin that may appear purple or blue.
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Bulging eyes or darkish circles under the eyes, which may look like a black eye.
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Constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, or loss of appetite.
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Cough, fatigue, and fever.
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Bone pain occurs if cancer has spread to the bones.
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Pale skin can be a sign of anemia.
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Painful and bloated belly.
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Breathing difficulty (usually in young babies).
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Weakness, a problem in movement, or insensibility in the legs and feet.
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High blood pressure and a fast pulsation (tachycardia).
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Horner's syndrome causes small pupils, droopy eyelids, and sweating on only one side of the face.
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Pain in the bones, legs, or back.
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Problems with coordination, balance, and movement.
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Uncontrollable eye movements.
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Unexplained weight loss.
What are the 4 Stages of Neuroblastoma?
The different stages of neuroblastoma are:
Stage 1 - Surgical methods can entirely remove the tumor since it has not spread.
Stage 2A - In this stage, the tumor cannot be removed entirely by surgical methods even though it has not spread.
Stage 2B - The entire tumor cannot be removed by surgical methods even though it has not spread. The adjacent lymph nodes may contain some neuroblastoma cells.
Stage 3 - The tumor has started to spread.
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3A - Cancer has crossed the midline and has spread to the other sides of the body. Surgical methods cannot remove it.
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3B - Cancer has not spread to the other sides of the body except the lymph nodes.
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3C - The tumor is present in the middle of the body and started growing on both sides directly or by the lymph nodes. It cannot be removed entirely by surgery.
Stage 4 - Cancer has spread to the body's distant parts like bones, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, skin, and other organs.
Stage 4S - It applies only to children under the age of 1. Cancer has spread to the liver, skin, bone marrow, and lymph nodes but only on one side of the body, and it has not spread to the bones.
How to Prevent Neuroblastoma?
Many adult cancer risks can be prevented by changing the lifestyle like quitting smoking and diet planning, but we cannot avoid many cancers in children. Neuroblastoma cannot be controlled by any means, but the following methods are helpful:
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Close observation of newborns in a state of family history of neuroblastoma.
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Early diagnosis and treatment.
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Mother's taking folic acid, and prenatal neuroblastoma can reduce the risk of neuroblastoma in children.
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Getting proper care from the doctor during pregnancy to ensure the health of the fetus.
How to Diagnose Neuroblastoma?
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Physical examination - The doctor may conduct a physical examination to check out any symptoms and ask questions about the child's habits and behaviors.
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Urine and Blood tests- These tests can indicate the cause of any signs and symptoms the child is experiencing. Urine tests are used to check the high levels of certain chemicals like catecholamines produced from the neuroblastoma cells.
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Imaging tests- Imaging tests can be used to explain a mass that can indicate a tumor and can be used to stage cancer. Imaging tests may include an X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan, and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan.
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Biopsy of tissues - Removing a sample of tissue for testing may be recommended by the doctor for laboratory testing. Specialized tests on the tissue sample can reveal the types of cells involved in the cancer cells' tumor and specific genetic characteristics. This information helps the doctor to prepare an individualized treatment plan.
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Biopsy of bone marrow - Removing a bone marrow sample for testing may be recommended by the doctor by aspiration procedures to detect if neuroblastoma has spread to the bone marrow (the spongy substance inside the largest bones where blood cells are produced). Bone marrow is removed for testing by inserting a needle into the hipbone or lower back of the child to draw out the marrow.
How to Treat Neuroblastoma?
The treatment plan for neuroblastoma is based on factors like:
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Age of the child.
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Stage of cancer.
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Whether the abnormalities are on the genes or chromosomes.
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Types of cells involved.
Treatment options for neuroblastoma include:
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Surgery.
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Radiation therapy.
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Bone-marrow transplant.
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Immunotherapy.
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Retinoid therapy for neuroblastoma.
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High dosage radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
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Stem cells transplant for neuroblastoma.
What Are the Complications of Neuroblastoma?
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Paralysis due to compression of the spinal cord.
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Hormonal imbalance due to the hormone-secreting neuroblastoma cells.
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Metastasis to the other organs.
Conclusion
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops in early cells of the nervous tissue, mostly involving the adrenal glands. The majority of the survivors have long-term complications due to the treatment, and relapse of the disease after initial treatment is also common. You can also consult an online doctor for more information regarding this disease and its treatment.
