title: Health status of young children during therapy for advanced neuroblastoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to describe the health status experienced by young children during various phases of therapy for advanced neuroblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients aged 2.00-4.99 years at the time of diagnosis of neuroblastoma (stages 3 or 4) who received active therapy between 1996 and 2000 were enrolled on the study. Their parents provided proxy assessments of their health status at a maximum of 10 assessment points during therapy using the Comprehensive Health Status Classification System for Pre-school Children (CHSCS-PS), which assesses level of function on 10 separate health domains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six assessment questionnaires were completed. Maximum morbidity was reported immediately following diagnosis and in the 2-3 weeks following bone marrow transplantation. The greatest morbidity was observed in the pain, self-care, mobility, and emotion domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to facing a high risk of mortality, young children being treated for advanced neuroblastoma also experience considerable morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Furlong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horsman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Schaik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rolland
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weitzman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feeny
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors