There are treatments for all children with neuroblastoma. Treatment options are related to age at diagnosis, tumor location, stage of disease, regional lymph node involvement, and tumor biology. More than one method of treatment may be used, depending on the needs of the patient. Surgery is used when possible to remove as much of the cancer as possible. If the cancer cannot be removed, surgery may be limited to a biopsy of the cancer.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. Bone marrow transplantation is a procedure in which healthy bone marrow is given to replace bone marrow destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. For the purposes of treatment presented here, neuroblastoma is categorized as localized resected, localized unresected, regional, disseminated, and special. Your child may receive treatment that is considered standard based on its effectiveness in a number of people in past studies, or you may choose to enter your child in a clinical trial. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.