About 90 percent of neuroblastomas produce hormones, such as epinephrine, which can increase heart rate and cause anxiety. Early diagnosis of a neuroblastoma isn't easy. A urine sample can be tested for excessive production of epinephrine-like hormones. The prognosis for children with neuroblastoma depends on the age of the child, the size of the tumor, and whether the tumor has spread. Children under 1 year of age and children with small tumors have a very good prognosis.
Early treatment offers the best hope of cure.
If the cancer hasn't spread, it usually can be removed by surgery. If the cancer is large or has spread, anticancer drugs such as vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin may be used, as may radiation therapy. In older children, the cure rate is low for cancer that has spread. Retinoblastoma A retinoblastoma is a cancer of the retina, the light-sensing area at the back of the eye. Retinoblastomas represent about 2 percent of childhood cancers.