What is Neuroblastoma ?
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of specialised nerve cells, called neural crest cells.
Neuroblastoma can occur anywhere in the body, but it most often occurs in one of the adrenal glands in the abdomen (tummy).
Symptoms
The child may have tumour is in the abdomen and trouble passing urine or feeling weakness are the main general syptoms.
Usually diagnosed ; between the age 7 to 12 yrs old.
Treatment
Treatment varies depending on the grade of cancer and age of child. They may include :
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Surgery
Can Neuroblastoma be prevented?
YES, if you have a child is of the age of 6 months old to 12 month, go to your general practitioner and ask for a "Neuroblastoma urine test" , the cost should me nothing or very minimal. Its easy to do, place a urine test strip in your babies nappy until next change then take back to doctor quickly for it to be tested.
This simple neuroblastoma test used to be done in the early 1990s free to every baby at the age of 6 months but the government decided it wasn't cost affective to do this any more.
Most children diagnosed with neuroblastoma before the age of 12 months are cured. The children usually diagnosed later in life have less chance of a cure.
This is based on personal experience with my daughter.
