Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Neuroblastoma Australia
Newsletter sign up
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • LinkedIn
Charity Shop Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About Neuroblastoma
    • What is neuroblastoma?
      • What is neuroblastoma?
      • Neuroblastoma Fact Sheet
      • Resources
      • Coronavirus help guide
    • Family stories
    • Key research areas
  • About Us
    • Our purpose
    • Our story
    • Our people
      • Our Board
      • Our Scientific Advisory Board
      • Our Neuroblastoma Australia Team
    • Our supporters
    • Our finances
    • News
    • Contact us
  • Family Support
    • Latest Health Advisory
    • Newly diagnosed
      • Key statistics
      • Causes & risks
      • Detection, diagnosis & staging
    • On treatment
      • Treatments & side effects
      • Clinical trials
      • Hospital tips
      • Life outside of hospital
      • Related Support Services
    • Post treatment
      • After treatment
      • Late effects
      • Relapse
    • Connecting with others
      • Family support group
      • Bereavement Support
      • Free family activities
    • Apply for an activity pack
  • Our Impact
    • Why fund research?
    • Our research projects
      • Current projects
      • Past projects
      • Grant recipients
    • Grant applications
  • Fundraise
    • Fundraise for us
    • Fundraising ideas
    • Support our fundraisers
      • All our fundraisers
      • Run2Cure Local
      • #44kmfor44kids
      • 2 Many 2 Young
    • Corporate fundraising
      • Workplace giving
      • Move2Cure
  • Events
    • Our neuroblastoma events
    • Other events
    • Past events
    • Conferences
    • Volunteer
  • Donate
    • Donate today
    • Give monthly
    • Support our appeals
    • In Memory of
    • Leave a gift in your will
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. About Neuroblastoma
  2. What is neuroblastoma?
  3. What is neuroblastoma?

What is neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumour of childhood. It is almost exclusively a childhood cancer occurring most commonly between the ages of 0-5 years. It results from immature nerve cells within the sympathetic nervous system.

What is neuroblastoma

We gratefully acknowledge the American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer.Net for permission to use the image below.

What is neuroblastoma?

Expand

Let's start with the name:

  • neuro = nerves
  • blastoma = a cancer that affects immature or developing cells.

So, neuroblastomas are cancers that start in early nerve cells (called neuroblasts) of the sympathetic nervous system.

This means that tumours can be found anywhere along this system; most commonly (about 50%) start in the adrenal glands (above the kidney), or near the spine, chest, neck or pelvis. 

Rarely, a neuroblastoma has spread so widely by the time it is found, doctors can’t tell exactly where it started.

Some neuroblastomas grow and spread quickly, while others grow slowly.

Published: 2nd July, 2018

Updated: 25th February, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How common is neuroblastoma?

Expand

Neuroblastoma is a rare disease with about 40 children diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year in Australia. There is a chance of 1 in 100,000 of a child suffering neuroblastoma. There appears to be no trend in an increasing number of cases in Australia.

Published: 1st July, 2019

Updated: 2nd February, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Why does this cancer form?

Expand

There are no known reasons as to why this cancer occurs and there are no clear environmental links. There are rare cases where neuroblastoma runs in families due to a genetic mutation, but in most cases there is no known genetic cause.

Published: 3rd July, 2019

Updated: 2nd February, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How is it diagnosed?

Expand

Neuroblastoma may be difficult to diagnose as symptoms often do not become apparent until the tumour has reached a certain size. Even then symptoms may be subtle and similar to other more common non-serious childhood diseases. As a result it often takes some time before the final diagnosis of neuroblastoma is made.

Often parents wonder if they or a doctor should have noticed something sooner, but because it is such a rare disease it is unlikely that a family doctor will ever see a child with neuroblastoma in a lifetime of practice.



Published: 5th July, 2019

Updated: 2nd February, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How dangerous is neuroblastoma?

Expand

Neuroblastoma is a very complex cancer and there are many different types that behave very differently. At one end of the spectrum are benign tumours that may even resolve spontaneously, while at the other end are aggressive tumours with an average survival rate of only 50%. The cure rate for these “high-risk” tumours has only improved marginally in recent years but there is clear hope that this rate will change with some new drug discoveries coming through.



Published: 6th July, 2019

Updated: 2nd February, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

More information

Expand

One of our goals as a charity is to provide practical information regarding treatment and hospital stays to neuroblastoma families through our website. 

We've added a Coronavirus Help Guide and a free activity guide to help families recently and our family support area has more information including:

  • Newly diagnosed - key statistics, causes, risks, detection, diagnosis and staging
  • On treatment - treatments and side effects, clinical trials
  • Post treatment - late effects and relapse
  • Living with neuroblastoma - hospital tips, life outside hospital and once treatment has finished
  • Support services for families
  • Connecting with other neuroblastoma families
  • Sharing your story

You can also download our neuroblastoma fact sheet here.

Please note that all content provided by Neuroblastoma Australia is of a general nature only. Any medical queries should be directed to your oncologist or medical team.

Published: 26th August, 2019

Updated: 2nd April, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Back to top

Showing 10 of 6

Latest

  • Nita Arora-Parkes

    Nita Arora-Parkes

    Nita is founder and Director of Groupcpo; a platform for small businesses and start-ups to find, buy and sell the tools and services they need to grow and scale their business. Nita has over 20 years’ experience as a technology and procurement executive, managing strategic partnerships and vendor negotiations with a global team.

  • Artist generously supports Neuroblastoma Australia

    Artist generously supports Neuroblastoma Australia

    Artist Craig Waddell has donated another stunning frangipani inspired art work to form the design for a 2nd limited edition tote bag.

  • 2022 Grant Round Announcement

    2022 Grant Round Announcement

    We are excited to announce the winners of our 2022 grants round. Two exceptional scientists will lead studies to develop tailored treatments to improve outcomes for children with neuroblastoma.

  • Nanoparticle therapy study

    Nanoparticle therapy study

    Recipient : Professor Maria Kavallaris
    Institute: Children's Cancer Institute
    Funding: $175,000 from 2023 to 2024

Most read

  • Emeline's Story

    Emeline's Story

    After months of misdiagnoses, including a middle-of-the-night emergency trip to the hospital, Emeline’s mum took her to a paediatric gastroenterologist believing her tummy issue was severe constipation. It turned out to be neuroblastoma.

  • What is neuroblastoma?

  • Run2Cure Local 2022

    Run2Cure Local 2022

    This September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month join Run2Cure Local 2022. Run, get fit and fundraise at a location near you!

  • Detection, diagnosis & staging

    Detection, diagnosis & staging

    Know about symptoms of neuroblastoma, detection, diagnosis and different stages of neuroblastoma childhood cancer.

  • How common is neuroblastoma?

  • Donate today

    Donate today

    Help us beat the number one toddler cancer. Please donate today to support world class Australian research into developing better, safer treatments with the ultimate goal of finding a definitive cure for all children diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

  • Jazmyn's 2 many 2 young Walk

    Jazmyn's 2 many 2 young Walk

    Support this special 2.2 km walk - inspired by Jazmyn Mitchell. Dress Up and wear a tutu 2 help raise awareness on 20.02.2022 and support all the children affected by neuroblastoma. This is Jazmyn's walk and legacy - a special light in this world.

  • How dangerous is neuroblastoma?

  • Contact us

    Neuroblastoma Australia is a Sydney Children's Cancer Charity in Crows Nest and is a registered charity with GDR Status. The best way to contact us is through [email protected]

  • Why does this cancer form?

Tag cloud

#GivingTuesdayNow #run2curelocal 2little 44kmfor44kids A gift for a child with cancer Donate today Golf2Cure research Zach's neuroblastoma story

Latest tweet

  • One of the highlights of running the charity, Neuroblastoma Australia has been establishing an outstanding Scienti… https://t.co/R2OvK0aGdH

    28thDecember, 2022 @NeuroblastomaAu
  • Excited to announce our @NeuroblastomaAU Grant winners: @MK_CCI from @KidsCancerInst and Dr Daniel Carter from… https://t.co/KVmFTNvrd5

    10thDecember, 2022 @NeuroblastomaAu
  • 2023 marks the 10 year anniversary of our charity’s signature fundraising event, Run2Cure. It started as a run for… https://t.co/W1HiLZ8SH7

    15thNovember, 2022 @NeuroblastomaAu

Some of our generous supporters include:

  


 




Approved by:

 Social Impact 2020 Rating

  • Contact us
  • Media
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Registered charity ABN : 74 173 375 414
Neuroblastoma Australia Level 1, 441 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest, NSW 2065,
+61 (0)2 9906 2066, [email protected]