Stage 3
Stage 3 is usually characterized by any of the following three occurrences:
- The tumor is only located in parts of your child’s body where it first appeared. It is only on one part of the body. However, cancer cells have developed in lymph nodes located on the other side of your child’s body.
- The tumor is located in the middle of your child’s body. It is spreading to both sides of their body. Metastasis is caused by the growth of the tumor itself or the spread of cancer cells via your child’s lymph nodes.
- The tumor cannot be completely removed during surgery. It has metastasized from one part of your child’s body to the other side. It may or may not have metastasized to lymph nodes close to the origin of development.
Stage 4
In stage 4, the tumor or cancer cells have spread to areas of your child’s body that are far away from the site of origin, such as the:
- Bone
- Liver
- Skin
- Distant lymph nodes
- Other organs
Stage 4S neuroblastoma is different from stage 4. It occurs when the following conditions are met:
- Your child is younger than 1 year old.
- The cancer is on one side of their body. It may have spread to lymph nodes on that side of their body but not the other side.
- The tumor has metastasized to their liver, skin, or bone marrow.
- About 10 percent of their bone marrow cells are cancerous.
- The cancer hasn’t metastasized to their bones.