{"id":141,"date":"2025-12-02T16:55:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T11:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drnandinihazarika.com\/blog\/?p=141"},"modified":"2025-12-20T10:28:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T04:58:01","slug":"neuroblastoma-signs-symptoms-treatment-prognosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drnandinihazarika.com\/blog\/neuroblastoma-signs-symptoms-treatment-prognosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Neuroblastoma: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment & Prognosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Neuroblastoma is a kind of cancer that occurs in young children. It begins in special nerve cells which continue to develop. These are what are referred to as neuroblasts. In the majority of cases, the onset of this cancer is in the belly, in the region around the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are located above the kidneys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This cancer may also begin at the neck, chest or spine. It occurs when the growth of these young nerve cells is in the wrong direction. They do not become healthy nerves, but become cancer cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neuroblastoma<\/a> is the prevalent type of cancer in infants below the age of one year. It is predominantly among children under five years. It is a bit more common in boys as compared to girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are Signs of Neuroblastoma<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you speak to parents who\u2019ve gone through this, many say the early days felt like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. Nothing seemed \u201cserious\u201d at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases a parent may observe that his or her child has a swollen belly or a firmer belly than normal. Perhaps they picked up the child and picked back the lump unconsciously. A tumour in the chest is different, with coughing which does not make sense at all, or a sort of laboured breathing which the parent subconsciously understands is not normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The neuroblastoma around the spine is another source of concern. A child who used to run around will no longer walk or continue insisting that he or she needs to be carried. Their legs could be weaker, and parents suppose it is some slight injury until it does not disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most unique of signs, and one in which many a parent would discuss later on, is the dark circles round the eyes that resemble bruises. In other cases the eyes appear to be slightly protruded. It is not nice to watch, and it usually makes the family consult doctors.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Neuroblastoma:<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Neuroblastoma Symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kids aren\u2019t always able to explain what hurts, so parents rely on subtle changes. Some children become unusually tired. They stop playing, cling more, and nap more. A fever comes and goes for weeks, and no syrup seems to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few children lose weight even though nothing has changed at home. Their appetite slowly drops. Bone pain is another symptom\u2014hard to catch unless the child cries when lifted or avoids putting weight on one leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, diarrhoea becomes persistent. Blood pressure rises, though this is usually picked up at the hospital, not at home. Hard lumps under the skin might appear too, especially when the cancer has spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not every child has all these signs, but even one or two lasting symptoms are worth checking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Some Children Get Neuroblastoma<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the hardest part for most families: there isn\u2019t a clear answer. Doctors know that neuroblastoma happens mostly in very young children. They know that only a tiny number\u2014maybe 1 or 2 out of 100\u2014inherit a gene that increases risk. They know it\u2019s slightly more common in children of European descent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in most cases, it simply happens. No mistakes by parents, no food, no activity, no exposure that caused it. It\u2019s one of those conditions where guilt sneaks in even though it shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Neuroblastoma Treatment Done<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Treatment depends on the child\u2019s age, the tumour\u2019s size, and whether the cancer has travelled elsewhere in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the tumour is small and in a spot surgeons can reach safely, they try to remove it. In a few lucky cases, that\u2019s the only treatment needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the cancer is bigger or has spread, chemo comes into the picture. It\u2019s given through an IV, sometimes for months. Most families get used to hospital routines\u2014blood tests, medicines, side effects, hair falling out, and then growing back again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radiation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not every child needs radiation, but it\u2019s used when certain tumours cannot be removed easily or when doctors need to target very specific areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bone Marrow Transplant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

High-risk cases need stronger treatment. Doctors first give very intense chemotherapy that clears out cancer cells but also wipes out healthy bone marrow. Then they give stem cells to help the child\u2019s body recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immunotherapy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the newer options. The child\u2019s immune system is encouraged to recognise and attack cancer cells. It has helped many children with high-risk disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retinoic Acid<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once the heavy treatments are done, this medicine helps stop the cancer from coming back by encouraging the leftover cells to mature properly.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Neuroblastoma:<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Chances of Recovery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Neuroblastoma prognosis depends heavily on a child\u2019s age and how far the cancer has spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babies under one year old respond amazingly well. If the cancer is found early and hasn\u2019t travelled far, the success rates are extremely high. Children in the low-risk category recover more than 95% of the time. Those in the intermediate group also do very well\u2014usually between 90 and 95%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-risk neuroblastoma is more challenging, but even then, modern treatments have helped around half of the children overcome it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a special stage called 4S<\/strong>, seen in infants. In some surprising cases, these tumours shrink or disappear with minimal treatment, which feels almost like a small miracle to the families involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Families Find Expert Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Delhi NCR, many parents trust Dr Nandini Choudhury Hazarika<\/a>, a paediatric oncologist who has been treating childhood cancers for nearly two decades. She has performed more than 150 bone marrow transplants and has trained at leading centres across India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She sees children at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n