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What is Neuroblastoma?

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What is Neuroblastoma?

Mainly affecting children, neuroblastoma is a relatively rare cancer of the sympathetic nervous system — a nerve network that carries messages from the brain throughout the body. Each year about 600 children in the United States will develop neuroblastoma. Generally developing in young children, it accounts for half of all malignancies in infants. These solid tumors, which take the form of a lump or mass, commonly begin in one of the adrenal glands, though they can also develop in nerve tissues in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis. The adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, are specialized glands that release hormones which maintain blood pressure and respond to stress.

The cause of neuroblastoma is unknown, though most physicians believe that it is an accidental cell growth that occurs during normal development of the adrenal glands. Increased awareness and improved screening has contributed to a recent increase in the detection and incidence of neuroblastoma.

Symptoms
Neuroblastoma’s first symptoms are often vague and may include fatigue and loss of appetite. Later on, symptoms depend on where the tumor takes root within the body. A tumor in the abdomen may cause a swollen belly and constipation. A tumor in the chest may cause breathing problems. Tumors pressing on the spinal cord cause a feeling of weakness. When this occurs, the child may be unable to walk. Because symptoms are so unclear, half of all neuroblastomas have already spread to other parts of the body by the time suspicions are raised and a diagnosis is made.

Diagnosis
Since neuroblastoma’s symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other, more common diseases and health complaints, there is often a delay in making the diagnosis. An oncologist or pathologist will be able to diagnose neuroblastoma once he or she reviews either a biopsy of the tumor or the results of urine and bone marrow tests.

Screening tests are available for neuroblastoma, but such tests will not find a neuroblastoma before it has spread throughout the body. For this reason, screening newborns or young children for neuroblastoma is generally not recommended.

Jack Brown

Jack Brown
Emergency Grant for Neuroblastoma FamiliesFunds have been made available by J-A-C-K and Solving Kids’ Cancer to help families in the UK affected by Neuroblastoma

An Emergency grant is available for Neuroblastoma families facing financial loss or increased costs because of Coronavirus measures.

Funds have been made available by J-A-C-K and Solving Kids’ Cancer to help families in the UK affected by Neuroblastoma (low, intermediate or high-risk), who face financial loss or increased costs due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Guidelines have been issued by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group asking that families of children and young people on active cancer treatment, or within 6 months following the completion of treatment, stay at home for the next 12 weeks. These guidelines are being reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. This is in line with the government guidance.

Parents / Guardians who are self-isolating alongside the child and that suffer financial loss or increased costs as a result may apply to the emergency fund for an initial grant towards their immediate subsistence costs.

Emergency grants of £250 are available now for those who are facing financial loss or increased costs as a result of the need of their child to stay home for the stated 12 weeks.

Additional support may be made available at a later stage for families facing acute financial loss because of the rapidly evolving public health crisis.

Criteria for accessing the grant is as follows;

  • You are the guardian of a child with Neuroblastoma (low, intermediate or high-risk) who is currently in active treatment, or within 6 months following the completion of treatment (at the point of application).
  • You have suffered financial loss or increased costs as a result of the need to self-isolate with your child which cannot be remedied by the emergency measures in place which can be found on the government website which is being continually updated. Also here.

To apply for the £250 emergency grant simply complete the form below and submit it by email to familygrant@solvingkidscancer.org.uk along with a copy of a letter or other documentary evidence from your Clinician or Medical institution which provides evidence of the active treatment of your child or treatment within the last six months (of the date of application).

We, at JACK, are thankful for the ability to provide money alongside SKC to the emergency fund for families. We are grateful to Solving Kids Cancer UK for administering the process and applications for the grant must be made via the email to Solving Kids Cancer.