| blastoma stage 4 is the most advanced stage of the | | | | step unless the neuroblastoma has spread too far. |
| neuroblastoma cancer. It means that the disease has | | | | In most cases, treatment involves a combination of |
| spread to other areas of the body, like the liver or | | | | medications. The main drugs used to treat children with |
| bone marrow, and the prognosis is not always good. | | | | neuroblastoma are cisplatin, vincristine, |
| If you are the parent of a child diagnosed with | | | | cyclophosphamide, etoposide and topotecan. These |
| neuroblastoma in the fourth stage, read on for an | | | | drugs produce a positive response in two thirds of |
| overview of the disease, information on stage 4 and | | | | children. |
| how the disease is treated. | | | | In certain cases, particularly when the cancer has |
| A Neuroblastoma Overview | | | | spread too far to be completely removed by surgery - |
| Approximately 650 cases of neuroblastoma are | | | | as is the case with the fourth stage of neuroblastoma |
| diagnosed every year in the U.S. It's the third most | | | | - chemotherapy is the primary treatment. |
| common kind of cancer in children and the most | | | | Bone Marrow Transplantation and Blood Stem Cell |
| frequent form in infants. Approximately 90 percent of | | | | Transplantation |
| all cases of neuroblastoma are diagnosed in children | | | | Because high-dosage chemotherapy will wipe out |
| aged 6 and under. | | | | bone marrow, new blood cells are no longer being |
| About 30% of all neuroblastoma cases begin in the | | | | developed, so children are at a high risk. Because kids |
| adrenal glands, another 30% start in the ganglia of the | | | | diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma must often |
| abdomen's sympathetic nervous system, and the | | | | undergo intense chemotherapy sessions, they should |
| majority of the remainder begin in the neck's | | | | also be prepared for a bone marrow transplant and/or |
| sympathetic ganglia, chest or pelvis. | | | | a secondary blood stem cell transplant. |
| Rates for Five-Year Survival | | | | Radiation Therapy |
| The five-year survival rate for infants (under the age | | | | Radiation therapy has been used in the past to |
| of 1) is 83%, while it is 55% for children between the | | | | destroy any neuroblastoma cells that remain behind |
| ages of 1 to 4, and 40% for older children. | | | | after surgery. It's also used to shrink tumors. |
| But children with stage 4 neuroblastoma normally have | | | | However, in many instances of late-stage and |
| much lower survival rates. They hover between 50% | | | | advanced neuroblastoma, it's rarely used unless it's |
| and 80% for infants (under a year old) and drop to | | | | implemented as a pain-management tool or in |
| 15% for children over the age of 1. | | | | conjunction with chemotherapy. |
| Treatments Used for Stage 4 of Neuroblastoma | | | | Children facing cancer of any type are in such a |
| Children who are diagnosed with stage 4 | | | | vulnerable position. The earlier in life a malignant |
| neuroblastoma are considered high risk. They are | | | | diagnosis, the great the prospect of survival. Parents |
| typically subjected to intensive, high-dosage | | | | who suspect the potential for this cancer should obtain |
| chemotherapy accompanied by surgery and stem cell | | | | confirmation from a trusted oncologist specializing in |
| transplantations. Typically though, surgery is the first | | | | the disease. |