Rhabdomyosarcoma: Treatment, symptoms, advice and help

About rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a fairly commonly occurring soft tissue cancer. It is characterised by cancerous growth of the muscles that are attached to the bones.

It can occur at any site in the body, though muscular structures of the head and neck, the uro-genital tract and the limbs are the most common sites.

Rhabdomyosarcoma: Incidence, age and sex

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumour affecting children. It accounts for 8 to 10% of all childhood cancers. It usually affects children at the ages of 2 to 6 and adolescents at the age of 15 to 19 years; however, the peak incidence is within 5 years of age. Upto 50% of the children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma may survive for upto 5 years.

Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma: Diagnosis

Rhabdomyosarcoma grows very fast and the most common symptom is a cancerous mass that may or may not be painful. Other symptoms vary depending on location of the cancer, e.g., cancer in the nose or throat area may cause bleeding, nasal congestion, difficulty in swallowing, or some kind of neurological problems if they extend into the brain. If the cancer is around the eyes, it may cause bulging of the eye, problems with vision, swelling around the eye, or pain. If the cancer is in the ears, it may cause ear pain and hearing loss. Chest x-ray, ultrasound scan, and CT scan may aid in diagnosing rhabdomyosarcoma.

Causes and prevention of rhabdomyosarcoma

The cause of rhabdomyosarcoma is unknown. Some studies have put forth genetic and some environmental factors as the causative factors. Some children with certain birth defects are at an increased risk. However, the great majority of children with rhabdomyosarcoma do not have any known risk factors.

Genetic factors include neurofibromatosis, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and Costello syndrome. Causative environmental factors include parental use of marijuana and cocaine, intrauterine exposure to X-rays, and previous exposure to alkylating agents.

Rhabdomyosarcoma: Complications

As with any cancer, the main complication is both local and advanced spreading of the cancer cells.

Rhabdomyosarcoma: Treatment

As in every cancer, the treatment depends upon the overall health and extent of disease. The precise treatment depends upon the site and type of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Children are generally treated with chemotherapy which helps in shrinking the cancer which is then removed surgically or by radiotherapy. Sometimes chemotherapy is given after surgery to try and destroy any cancer cells that have not been removed by surgery, or which may have spread to other parts of the body. In general, surgery and radiation therapy are used to treat the primary site of the cancer. Chemotherapy is used to treat the disease at all other sites within the body.