Neurofibromatosis (NF) causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The term NF represents three distinct disorders (click below to learn more):
Half of the people who develop NF1 or NF2 inherit it from a parent. The others develop it by chance, as the result of a spontaneous change in a specific gene in an egg or sperm cell. Every person affected by NF1 or NF2 has a 50% chance of passing the condition on to their offspring. Schwannomatosis is less well understood, but the majority of cases appear to occur by chance, not because they are inherited.
At this time, there is no approved cure for NF, but a number of promising NF clinical trials are under way. As researchers continually learn more about the underlying causes of NF and what makes tumors grow, we get closer to the development of effective treatments for NF. We are hopeful that we will be able to offer FDA approved drugs for NF in the near future.
Only a trained healthcare professional familiar with the condition can make a clinical diagnosis of NF. If you think you or your child has NF, contact a doctor for an evaluation.
Click to view, download, or print our NF brochures and fact sheets.
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