Can rhabdomyosarcoma be found early?

At this time, there are no widely recommended screening tests for this cancer. (Screening is testing for cancer in people who don't have any symptoms.)

Some cases of rhabdomyosarcoma are found at an early stage. More than 1 out of 3 of these cancers is diagnosed early enough so that all visible tumor can be completely removed by a surgeon. Still, many of these turn out to already have microscopic tumor spread (spread that cannot be seen, felt, or detected by imaging tests) that is not removed by surgery.

Fortunately, many rhabdomyosarcomas start in areas where they are noticed early. For example, small tumors that start in the muscles behind the eye often cause the eye to bulge out, while tumors in the nasal cavity often cause nasal congestion, nosebleeds, or bloody mucus. When small lumps form near the surface of the body, parents often see them or feel them.

Tumors starting around the testicles in young boys cause painless swelling that is often noticed early by a parent. Many rhabdomyosarcomas start in the bladder or other parts of the genitourinary tract and may cause trouble emptying the bladder or lead to blood in the urine or in diapers. In girls with rhabdomyosarcoma of the vagina, the tumor may cause bleeding or a mucus-like discharge from the vagina. There are many other causes of bleeding, of course, and most of them are not very serious, but it is important to have this checked by a doctor.

It may be harder to recognize tumors in the arms, legs, and trunks of older children because they may often have pain or bumps from sports or play injuries. Have your child's doctor evaluate any pain, swelling, or lumps that grow quickly or don't go away after a few weeks.

Families known to carry inherited conditions that raise the risk of this cancer (listed in "What are the risk factors for rhabdomyosarcoma?") or that have several family members with cancer (particularly childhood cancers) should talk with their doctors about the possible need for more frequent checkups. It is not common for this type of cancer to run in families, but close attention to possible early signs of cancer may help find it early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.