This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience.

The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

General approach to treatment

Because the treatment and prognosis of children with rhabdomyosarcoma depend so much on complete surgical removal of the tumor and the type of rhabdomyosarcoma, it is very important for these patients to be diagnosed and treated by doctors who are experienced in caring for children with cancer. Children with rhabdomyosarcoma are best treated in medical centers where there is experience and expertise in treating childhood cancer.

All children and adults with rhabdomyosarcoma will be treated with surgery to remove the tumor if it is possible to do so without causing major damage or disfigurement. Although the goal is to completely remove the tumor, this is often not possible.

Whether the tumor appears to have been completely removed or not, all children with rhabdomyosarcoma should receive chemotherapy. Without it, it is very likely that the cancer will recur at distant metastatic sites because small amounts of cancer are almost always present in other parts of the body when the cancer is first diagnosed.

If cancer is left behind after surgery or if the cancer has some less favorable traits and it hasn't spread to distant sites (as is the case most of the time), radiation therapy will also be given.

Treating rhabdomyosarcoma is complex and requires the expertise of many different doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Your child's pediatric oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, and oncology nurses will get together to plan the most effective treatment.

All of these treatments may have side effects, but many of them can be made less troublesome. Your medical team will help you take care of the side effects and will work closely with nutritionists, psychologists, and social workers to help you and your child understand and deal with the medical problems, stress, and scheduling problems related to the treatment.

Because all of these things are important for children, many people will be involved in your child's overall care. As a parent, taking care of a child with cancer can be a very big job. It is important to remember that you will have a lot of help. It is also important for you to know that the health care professionals who treat children with rhabdomyosarcoma are using the experience and knowledge gained from more than 30 years of detailed scientific study of treating this disease.

Last Medical Review: 09/08/2009
Last Revised: 09/08/2009