Neuroblastoma most commonly found in embryo or fetus. It starts in immature or developing embryo cells – in nerve cells. It is rare in children older than 10 years. It can occur anywhere in the body but most commonly appears in abdomen. Average age of child at diagnosis is 1 to 2 years old and most neuroblastoma cases are diagnosed before age 5.

Symptoms of neuroblastoma are: swelling in belly or abdomen. If the child develops it on spine then it will stop crawling or walking, paralysis, if on chest- difficulty in breathing, if in abdomen – enlarged belly, vomiting. If it is metastasized then child may have black eyes, bruises, fever, paleness, joint and bone pain and may stop walking or could limp.  About 6% of childhood cancers are neuroblastomas.

Treatment for neuroblastoma -Chemotherapy, surgery, autologous stem cell transplant, antibody therapy. Treatments depends on the tumor development stage and cancer advancement.

Wilms tumor – Rare kidney cancer

Wilms tumor or nephroblastoma starts in one, or rarely, both kidneys. It is often found in children 3 to 4 years old. Symptoms include abdominal mass, swelling in abdomen, fever, pain, constipation, loss of appetite, high blood pressure, nausea, shortness of breath. Wilms tumor accounts for about 5% of childhood cancers. Diagnosis is done by total blood count, urine test, imaging test.

Generally, Wilms tumor develops due to genetic background.

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