What is the treatment for neuroblastoma?
For children with lower stages of disease and favorable risk factors, surgery and/or some chemotherapy may be sufficient treatment. Children with high risk disease typically receive multiple rounds of harsh, high-dose chemotherapies, radiation, surgeries, and retinoid therapy. In addition, many undergo stem cell transplantation, immunotherapy and other painful treatments. Life is disrupted for the entire family–constant visits to the cancer clinic are required and weeks are spent in the hospital. It is common for families to travel to different parts of the country and even the world seeking treatment options for their children. There is very little known about why neuroblastoma occurs, or about what factors increase the risk for occurrence. Currently, there is no known cure. Great strides have been made in the overall survival rate of children with many types of cancer, however, this has not been the cause of neuroblastoma. These successes seen in other cancers have been the direct r
