High Risk Neuroblastoma

What is High Risk Neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a rare type of cancer that usually occurs in children. It mostly affects the nerve tissue of the adrenal glands, near the kidneys. High risk neuroblastoma is a more advanced stage of neuroblastoma in which the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of High Risk Neuroblastoma

High risk neuroblastoma can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Pain in the abdomen, bones or chest.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever or infection.
• Lack of appetite or weight loss.
• Swelling or lumps in the neck, abdomen or in other parts of the body.
• High levels of calcium in the blood.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.

Treatments for High Risk Neuroblastoma

Treatments for high risk neuroblastoma can include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or stem cell transplants. Depending on the stage of the cancer, doctors may also use combinations of these treatments to achieve the best result.

Chemotherapy involves using drugs to target and kill cancer cells. It can be used to shrink tumors, slow the growth of cancer cells, or help the body's immune system fight the cancer. Surgery may be used to remove tumors or to take biopsies for further testing.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage and kill cancer cells. It is usually used to treat tumors that are too large to be removed by surgery. Immunotherapy is a type of therapy that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells. Stem cell transplants replace unhealthy stem cells with healthy ones to help the body fight cancer.

Outlook for High Risk Neuroblastoma

The outlook for high risk neuroblastoma depends on the stage and location of the cancer. Fortunately, advances in the diagnosis and treatments for neuroblastoma have increased survival rates in recent years. Prognosis is generally better for younger children with high risk neuroblastoma.