Key statistics about neuroblastoma
A rare, complex cancer that mostly affects children under five. Here's what families, donors and supporters should know.
The deadliest
Neuroblastoma is a solid tumour childhood cancer that claims more lives of children under the age of 5 than any other cancer.
The average age of diagnosis is just 2 years old.
There are no known reasons as to why this cancer occurs and no clear environmental links. Rare cases run in families due to a genetic mutation, but in most cases there is no known genetic cause.
Neuroblastoma is a very complex cancer with many different types that behave very differently. At one end of the spectrum are benign tumours that may even resolve spontaneously; at the other are aggressive tumours with an average survival rate of 50%.
The average 5-year survival rate for aggressive neuroblastoma is a low 50–60%.
A third of the survivors of neuroblastoma have long-term side effects from the toxicity of their treatments — including hearing loss, infertility and an increased risk of a secondary cancer.
It is almost exclusively a childhood cancer, occurring most commonly between the ages of 0–5 years. It is rare in children over 10, and very rare in adults.
A path toward a cure
There is currently no cure for relapsed neuroblastoma patients — but there is clear potential. New drugs like DFMO and therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy are showing definite progress.
