What treatment is recommended for rhabdomyosarcoma?
Surgery (removing the cancer in an operation) is used to treat childhood rhabdomyosarcoma. A type of surgery called wide local excision is often done. A wide local excision is the removal of tumor and some of the tissue around it, including the lymph nodes. A second surgery may be needed to remove all the cancer.
How long is the treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma?
The total length of treatment usually ranges from 6 months to a year. Some drugs can be taken by mouth, but most are given IV (injected into a vein). A combination of chemo drugs is used to treat patients with RMS.
What is the survival rate of rhabdomyosarcoma in children?
The 5-year survival rate for children who have low-risk rhabdomyosarcoma ranges from 70% to more than 90%. The 5-year survival rate for children in the intermediate-risk group ranges from about 50% to 70%. When the cancer becomes high risk, spreading widely in the body, the 5-year survival rate ranges from 20% to 30%.
Can rhabdomyosarcoma be cured with surgery?
Surgery to remove the tumor. Unless it is clear that the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, surgery is usually the first step in treating RMS. Complete resection (removal) of the main tumor, along with some surrounding normal tissue, is the goal whenever possible.
What type of chemotherapy is used for rhabdomyosarcoma?
Chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma is given by injection into a vein. The drugs that are used most often in North America for rhabdomyosarcoma are vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar), dactinomycin (Cosmegen, Lyovac Cosmegen), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Clafen, Neosar). This combination of drugs is often called VAC.
How common is rhabdomyosarcoma in children?
How common is rhabdomyosarcoma? Soft tissue sarcomas account for about 7 to 8 percent of childhood cancers. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children. About two-thirds of rhabdomyosarcoma cases are diagnosed in children younger than age 10.
Can rhabdomyosarcoma be cured?
Overall, the survival rate for children in the low-risk group ranges from about 70% to over 90%. The rate varies based on tumor location, stage, and other factors. Most of these children will be cured.
How often does rhabdomyosarcoma come back?
Background: Although > 90% of children with nonmetastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) achieve complete remission with current treatment, up to one-third of them experience a recurrence. Survival rates are not always poor in patients who develop recurrences; thus, prognostic factors are needed to tailor salvage treatment.