Treating Rhabdomyosarcoma
If you or your child has been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the cancer care team will discuss treatment options with you. It is important to consider the benefits of each treatment option and the possible risks and side effects.
How is rhabdomyosarcoma treated?
RMS is almost always treated with both local treatment (surgery and/or radiation therapy) and chemotherapy (chemo). The details of the treatment plan can vary based on risk group, the tumor location and size, gene changes in the tumor, and spread of the cancer at diagnosis.
Common treatment approaches
All children and adults with RMS will be treated with surgery to remove the tumor if it can be done safely without causing major damage or disfigurement. If this is not possible, chemo and/or radiation therapy may be used first to try to make the tumor smaller. If it shrinks enough, surgery can be done at this point. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor completely, but this is not always possible.
Even if the tumor appears to have been removed completely, all patients with RMS need chemo. Without it, it is very likely that the cancer will come back because small amounts of cancer are almost always in other parts of the body (even though they are not big enough to be seen on imaging tests).
If cancer is left behind after surgery, or if the cancer has some unfavorable traits but has not spread to distant sites, radiation therapy will also be given.
Who treats rhabdomyosarcoma?
RMS is not common, and treating it can be complex, so it is very important for patients to be diagnosed and treated by a team of doctors who have experience with RMS.
For children and teens, treatment is best done at a children’s cancer center. For adults with RMS, treatment is typically done at a major cancer center. Doctors on the treatment team might include:
- An orthopedic surgeon (a surgeon who specializes in muscles and bones) who is experienced in treating RMS
- A medical or pediatric oncologist (a doctor who treats cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs)
- A radiation oncologist (a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy)
- A pathologist (a doctor specializing in using lab tests to diagnose and classify diseases)
- A physiatrist (a doctor who directs a person’s rehabilitation and physical therapy after treatment)
For both children and adults, the cancer care team might also include other doctors, physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, other rehabilitation specialists, and other health professionals.
Learn more about How to Find the Best Cancer Treatment for Your Child.
Making treatment decisions
The treatment for RMS can often be effective, but it can also cause serious side effects. It is important to discuss all treatment options as well as their possible side effects with the cancer care team so you can make an informed decision. It is also very important to ask questions if you are not sure about something.
The treatment team will also help you take care of side effects and can help you work closely with nutritionists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to understand and deal with medical problems, stress, and other issues related to the treatment.
For cancer in children and teens, many of these issues can be more complex. As a parent, taking care of a child with cancer can be a big job. It is important to remember that you will have a lot of help. Many people will be involved in your child’s care. It is also important to know that the health professionals who treat children with RMS are using the experience and knowledge gained from many decades of studying the treatment of this disease.
Learn more in Talking to Your Child’s Cancer Care Team.
Questions to ask before rhabdomyosarcoma treatment
Sometimes, asking questions about what to expect can make starting treatment less stressful. Once you have decided on a treatment plan, some questions you might consider asking include:
- How soon do we need to start treatment?
- What should we do to be ready for treatment?
- How long will treatment last? What will it be like? Where will it be done?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- What symptoms or side effects should we expect with treatment?
- Is there anything we can do to help manage side effects?
- What symptoms or side effects should we tell you about right away?
- How can we reach you or someone on your team on nights, weekends, or holidays?
- Who can we talk to if we have questions about costs, insurance coverage, or social support?
- Can I (my child) continue school or work during treatment? How will treatment affect our daily life?
- Are there nearby support groups or other families who have been through this that we could talk to?
Other things to consider
- If time allows, consider getting a second opinion to feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose for you or your child.
- Clinical trials study new treatments and may offer access to promising options not widely available. They are also how doctors learn better ways to treat cancer. Children’s cancer centers often conduct many clinical trials at any one time. Many children treated at these centers take part in a clinical trial as part of their treatment. If you would like to learn more about clinical trials that might be right for you or your child, start by asking the treatment team if your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials.
- You may hear about ways to relieve symptoms or treat your cancer such as herbs, diets, acupuncture, massage, or many others. Complementary methods are used with standard care, while alternative ones replace it. Some may help with symptoms, but many aren’t proven to work and could even be harmful. Talk with your care team first to make sure anything you're considering is safe and won’t interfere with treatment.
Preparing for treatment
Before treatment, the doctors and other members of the team will help you understand the tests that will need to be done.
Your cancer care team will also often include a social worker. The team’s social worker will be there to support you and your family before, during, and after treatment. Adjusting to a new cancer diagnosis and its treatment plan can be tough, but your cancer care team is there to help.
Learn more in Helping Your Child Adjust to a Cancer Diagnosis.
Help getting through cancer treatment
Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital- or clinic-based support services can also be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help. For people with cancer and their families, other specialists can be an important part of care as well.
The American Cancer Society also has programs and services—including rides to treatment, lodging, and more—to help you get through treatment. Call our National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-227-2345 and speak with one of our trained specialists.
The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer 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 your cancer care team any questions you may have about your treatment options.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Linardic CM, Wexler, LH. Chapter 25: Rhabdomyosarcoma. In: Blaney SM, Adamson PC, Helman LJ, eds. Pizzo and Poplack’s Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology. 8th ed. Philadelphia Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2021.
National Cancer Institute. Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®). 2024. Accessed at
www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/hp/rhabdomyosarcoma-treatment-pdq on April 3, 2025.
Okcu MF, Hicks J. Rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood and adolescence: Treatment. UpToDate. 2025. Accessed at www.uptodate.com/contents/rhabdomyosarcoma-in-childhood-adolescence-and-adulthood-treatment on April 3, 2025.
Last Revised: June 2, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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