Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a rare childhood cancer which usually originates as a tumor (lump or mass) in the sympathetic nervous system. The most common place for the original tumor is on the adrenal glands which sit on the kidney. 97% of all sympathetic nervous system cancers are NB. New diagnosis of all childhood cancers occur in about 13,000 children per year, with only about 650-700 being Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma generally develops in young children, as half of all cancers diagnosed in infants are Neuroblastomas. The average age at diagnosis is 2 years old, and the risk goes down as age goes up.

Although the cause of NB is unknown, most researchers believe it is an accidental cell growth that occurs during normal development of the sympathetic nervous system. Since NB is rare, most pediatricians have never seen a single case, and often the diagnosis is finally made only after a long trying period. Children may have a variety of symptoms such as irritability and low-grade fever that mimic common illnesses and viruses, or diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that cause joint pain. Symptoms depend on where the tumor originates and if it has spread.

Currently there is no cure for Neuroblastoma, and it's overall survival rate is 30%. This means that 70% of all diagnosed cases will have relapses even after remission, and relapses are not curable in most cases.

We can all work together to raise awareness of this devastating cancer by providing education on the symptoms and warning signs of neuroblastoma to parents and to healthcare providers, and by doing what we can to support research towards finding an eventual cure.

For the current research on NB, click here.

What can you do to help? The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation has set up this website as a resource for those who would like to learn more, for parents of children fighting this disease, and for those who wish to help through research or donations. They have established a program called "Lunch for Lives" which asks donors to contribute one-day's worth of lunch money to help find a cure for NB through education, research funding, and awareness. Find out more here:
Lunch for Lives

For donations more specific to Neuroblastoma research, or in memory of Nicholas Branca, please consider donating here per the family's request.