What is neuroblastoma? Symptoms and signs of the cancer that affects babies and young children
About 100 children in the UK each year are diagnosed with the disease and many are under the age of five
NEUROBLASTOMA is a rare form of cancer that mostly affects babies and young children.
Football mascot Bradley Lowery, who captured the hearts of the nation, lost his battle against the disease in 2017. Here is all you need to know about the condition also suffered by chef Jean-Christophe Novelli's son Valentino.
What is neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops in nerve cells that have been left behind from their development in the womb.
It usually develops in the adrenal glands next to the kidneys but can also form in the spinal cord, neck, chest, pelvis or abdomen and is able to spread to other organs.
It is unknown what causes the cancer but it affects around 100 children in the UK every year with many of them under five.
The outlook for children diagnosed with the condition varies and mainly depends on if the cancer has spread.
What are the signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma?
The early signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma can be very hard to spot, especially in young babies as they can be mistaken for other common conditions.
However, according to NHS Choices, signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma include:
- A swollen painful tummy
- Constipation
- Breathlessness
- Difficult swallowing
- A lump in the neck
- Blue lumps on the skin and bruising
- Fatigue, weakness and bone pain
- Jerky eye and muscle movements
How can neuroblastoma be treated?
There are five main treatments for neuroblastoma and doctors will decide which course of action to take based upon how advanced the disease is.
One option is surgery to remove the cancer and another is chemotherapy to try and kill the cancer cells.
Other treatments include radiotherapy, a stem cell transplant and immunotherapy.
MORE ON BRADLEY LOWERY
Who was Bradley Lowery?
Bradley Lowery was a six-year-old boy from Blackhall Colliery, near Hartlepool, who fought cancer most of his young life.
Battling Brad beat the disease once but after some time in remission it came back in July 2016.
On July 7, 2017, his parents announced the sad news that their much-loved little boy had lost his fight with the terrible condition.
The Sunderland fan’s life changed at the age of 18 months when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. A tumour was found above his left kidney and it quickly spread.
His family desperately raised money for treatment in the US but doctors delivered the heart-breaking news that the little boy’s cancer had become terminal.
In June 2017, his devastated mum posted a heartbreaking picture of the pained youngster with his older brother – as she revealed he was “deteriorating fast”.
And by the end of the month, Bradley had just days to live – but was still putting on a brave face, having a “bed party” where he said goodbyes to loved ones before snuggling up with footballer Jermain Defoe.
Any money raised which did not go towards Bradley’s treatment will be put into the , to support others with the illness.