What are the signs and symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma?

Rhabdomyosarcoma in the head may cause headaches, bulging of an eye, or a droopy eyelid. In the urinary system, RMS affects urination (peeing) and bowel movements, and can lead to blood in the pee or stool (poop). If a muscle tumor is pressing on a nerve, a child might feel tingling or weakness in that area.

Read more

What is the 5-year survival rate for rhabdomyosarcoma?

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%. Does rhabdomyosarcoma run in families? It's not common for RMS to run in families, but close attention to possible early signs of cancer might help find it early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.

Regarding this, can rhabdomyosarcoma be inherited?

However, there are a few known genetic risk factors for rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma may develop in someone with an inherited disorder that puts them at greater risk. These inherited conditions include: Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Does Chemo work on rhabdomyosarcoma? Chemo drugs used to treat rhabdomyosarcom. For RMS, chemo is typically given once a week for the first few months, and then less often. 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).

How quickly does rhabdomyosarcoma develop?

The sarcoma does not usually develop until at least 5 to 10 years after the radiotherapy treatment. Exposure to some types of chemical may be linked to the development of some sarcomas.