Neuroblastoma Research Paper

There are more than 100 types of cancers that exists; and any part of the body can be affected by it. Neuroblastoma is one of those cancers, and it usually appears around the adrenal glands, which sits at the top of the kidneys. It can also develop onto other areas of the body for example the chest, neck, and near the spine. The reason why is because those are areas where groups of nerve cells exists within the body. Neuroblastoma is a very common cancer that mainly affects infants and children up to the age of ten. A diagnosis that is used at times for neuroblastoma is a Biopsy. A biopsy helps take a closer look at the tumor, and see how much it has grown weather it’s a visible tumor, or if its microscopic. In this process, the doctor takes …show more content…
It is usually spread into the infants/child’s body before it is even born, but at times it is not detected until the tumor begins to grow and start affecting the child’s body. If the tumor is found while infancy it is very likely that the patient will be cured very fast, but if not it does take a while. The way neuroblastoma comes to be is by an abnormal cell growth happening in the child’s body, formed by neuroblasts, which are known to be nerve cells. Every human being carries neuroblasts but it different when it turns into neuroblastoma. Normally, the immature cells grow into mature functioning nerve cells, but in neuroblastoma they become cancer cells instead. Depending on where the tumor is found it can cause specific affects to their bodies. For example, if the tumor is found in the bone some signs are bruises, black eyes, pale skin, and bone pain. Whereas if the tumor was found in the neck some signs might be drooping eyelids, unequal pupils, and red skin. Neuroblastoma can easily be mistaken as any childhood illness making it very interesting. One of the most interesting facts that was found by the research that has been done was how the children got black eyes as an effect of neuroblastoma. The reason behind the “raccoon eyes” is because the tumor pushes against certain nerves in the neck or in the chest causing the child’s eyelids to get baggy and turn black. The reason why the Biopsy was chosen as a diagnoses is because even though it seems as one of the simplest diagnoses compared to so many, it seems as one of the most reliable sources. The reason why is because the doctor him/herself is taking out a piece of tissue themselves with a needle, and is examining it out with other doctors. Having them have a closer and more accurate look at what they will be dealing with. The biopsy plays a large role in research being done of neuroblastoma, not only because it’s