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Neuroblastoma is a big, scary word. This page explains it two ways: one for grown-ups, and one for kids. Pick whichever feels right.
What is neuroblastoma?
A rare cancer that mostly affects young children. It develops from immature nerve cells called neuroblasts.
It is the most common solid-tumour cancer outside the brain in children, and most often affects children under five.
Your body is built from teeny-tiny pieces called cells. Some cells, called neuroblasts, are supposed to grow up into nerve cells, your body’s messengers.
Sometimes a few of them don’t grow up the right way. They keep making more of themselves and form a lump called a tumour. That’s neuroblastoma.
Questions families askQuestions kids ask
Tap a card to flip it over.
Big words, made small
You might hear these at the hospital. Tap a word to see what it means.
Cell
The tiny building blocks that make up every part of your body. You have trillions of them!
Neuroblast
A baby nerve cell that is still growing up. Nerve cells carry messages around your body.
Tumour
A lump that forms when cells keep growing when they shouldn’t.
Scan
A special picture of the inside of your body. The picture itself doesn’t hurt.
Biopsy
Taking a tiny piece of the tumour so doctors can study it under a microscope.
Chemotherapy
Strong medicine that fights cancer cells. It can make you tired or make your hair fall out for a while.
Oncologist
A doctor who is an expert in treating cancer.
Stem cell transplant
Giving the body fresh, healthy “seed” cells that grow into new blood cells.
Neuroblastoma, explained in a minuteWatch: what is neuroblastoma?
A one-minute animated explainer made by the foundation, with words on screen and no sound, so kids can watch it anywhere.
This page is a gentle introduction, not medical advice. Your child’s care team is always the best place to ask questions.
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