By: Dr. Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Asstt. Editor-ICN
LUCKNOW: Surprising and unbelievable it may sound, but unusually real it is. Neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the developing sympathetic nervous system, is derived from the neuroblasts. The incidence of childhood cancer in India are lower than that in developed countries.
Neuroblastoma is a solid tumour in children that often originates from the adrenal gland and spreads around the spine, chest, abdomen, bone marrow and liver. In very rare cases, it spreads to the skin during infancy.
Neuroblastoma is classified into different stages that aids in determining it’s prognosis. Staging specifies whether the cancer has spread and how far. This also helps to decide the possible treatment options.
It is a malignant tumour representing a mass on abdomen, neck and other body parts. The clinical manifestations depends on the affected locations and includes following –
ABDOMEN- Swollen abdomen, scrotal mass, abdominal pain.
CHEST- Inability to move, paralysis, weakness, breathing difficulties, fetal hydrops.
Other Signs- Cutaneous metastasis, Bladder dysfunction, seizures, jerk, muscle twitches, bone pain, unequal pupils, dropping eyelids , nerve damage in neck, uncontrolled eye movements , bruising around eyes.etc.
CT, MRI helps to produce images and diagnose masses in chest, abdomen, ribs etc. They also help to measure the intraspinal extensions of neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma is curable, but the survival rate depends on child’s age, location of tumour and stage of tumour. The different types of treatments available includes, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, iodine 131- mlBG therapy, immunotherapy etc.
- Surgery is done to remove primary tumour mass and regional lymph nodes.
- Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells so as to prevent them from spreading. It is mostly used for children who belong to lower risk groups.
- 131 I- mlBG therapy is usually given to patients with widespread disease. mlBG is selectively taken up by cancer cells. The radioactive iodine (I- 131) which is tagged to it , emits beta radiation which kill the cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy involves administration of drugs in vein which circulate in the body and kills the cancer cells.
Cancer is like a nightmare that puts you into the clutches of grief and affliction, and what can pull you back into the battle called life is a “ray of hope”. Nobody can understand the depth of sorrow and the amount of confidence and strength required to fight back, nobody but the one who has been through it. What keeps you going in the times of distress is the never giving up attitude, the family that stands along the ups and down and awareness and advanced science technology that will guide you in every step through this journey.
