Treatment
Standard treatment for rhabdomyosarcomas is a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Your physician may also discuss immunotherapy and targeted therapy as alternative treatment options. The specific treatment plan depends on the size, location, type, and extent of the tumor. For tumors in a favorable location, the standard treatment is usually surgery followed by chemotherapy. For large tumors and tumors in an unfavorable location, the doctor may use a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy to shrink and eliminate the tumor. Here are some of the procedures the doctor may recommend:
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Surgery
Surgery is usually the treatment of choice for rhabdomyosarcoma. The doctor will remove the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue whenever possible. If cancer cells are found at the edges of the removed tissue, the doctor may operate again to remove any remaining cancer. The doctor may also perform surgery even if the tumor cannot be completely removed. Removing part of the tumor may help other treatments to be more effective. The doctor may also give chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to shrink the tumor before surgery or to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to target rapidly growing cells in an effort to destroy cancer cells. Treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma always includes chemotherapy, and all children with the disease will receive this treatment at some point. Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery for rhabdomyosarcoma, to kill any remaining cancer cells. If the tumor could not be completely removed during surgery, additional chemotherapy will be given to shrink the remaining tumor. This may allow the doctor to remove it at a later date.
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Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses waves of high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may also be given to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery and may be combined with chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may also be given as a primary treatment if surgery is not an option or if a large part of the tumor is left after surgery.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials allow patients to try a new treatment before it is available to the general public. In some cases, this may be a new drug that has not been used in humans before, or it may be a drug or drug combination that is not currently used for that specific type of cancer. Early phase clinical trials are often used to test side effects of a drug or drug combination, while later phase clinical trials are used to see how effective a new treatment might be for a certain type of cancer. Clinical trials allow doctors and researchers to improve the treatment of cancers with possibly more effective therapies. A clinical trial may be a new, groundbreaking drug or it may have no effect. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of clinical trials for your particular situation.
