Neuroblastoma Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of cancer neuroblastoma. This means that the disease has spread to other areas of the body such as the liver or bone marrow, and the prognosis is not always good.
If you are the parent of a child diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the fourth step, read on for an overview of the disease, information on step 4 and how the disease is treated.
Neuroblastoma Overview A
Approximately 650 cases of neuroblastoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S. It s the third most common type of cancer among children and the most common in infants. Approximately 90 percent of all cases of neuroblastoma are diagnosed in children aged 6 years and under.
Approximately 30 of all cases of neuroblastoma begins in the adrenal glands, another start in the 30 nodes of the abdomen s sympathetic nervous system, and the majority of the rest begin in the neck glands s nice, chest or pelvis .
Survival rate over five years
The five year survival rates for infants (under 1) is 83, compared to 55 for children aged 1 to 4, and 40 for older children.
But children with stage 4 neuroblastoma usually have much lower survival rate. They hover between 50 and 80 for infants (less than one year) and falls to 15 for children over 1.
Treatments for stage 4 neuroblastoma
Children who are diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4 are considered high risk. They are usually subject to high dose chemotherapy accompanied by surgery and transplantation of stem cells. In general, however, surgery is the first step unless neuroblastoma is too far.
In most cases, treatment includes a combination of drugs. The main drugs used to treat children with neuroblastoma are cisplatin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide and topotecan. These drugs produce a positive response in two thirds of children.
In some cases, particularly when the cancer has spread too far to be completely removed by surgery, as is the case with the fourth stage of the chemotherapy of neuroblastoma is the primary treatment.
Bone Marrow Transplantation and Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
Because high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow clears, new blood cells are no longer being developed so that children are at high risk. Because children diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma often have to undergo intense chemotherapy sessions, they must also be prepared for a bone marrow transplant and / or transplantation of blood stem cells.
Radiation Therapy
Radiotherapy was used in the past to destroy all neuroblastoma cells that remain after surgery. It is also used to reduce tumors.
However, in many cases of advanced stage neuroblastoma, he rarely used unless it s implemented as a tool for pain management or in combination with chemotherapy.
Children from all types of cancer are in a vulnerable position. The earlier in life a malignant diagnosis, the perspective of survival. Parents who suspect the potential of this cancer should obtain confirmation of a trusted oncologist specializing in the disease.
