How is rhabdomyosarcoma treated?
Surgery is the most common treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma. Our surgeons will remove as much of the cancer as possible. Sometimes radiation therapy is given; this uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may be given before surgery or after surgery. It may be produced by a machine or by putting materials called radioisotopes through thin plastic tubes into the tumorous area. Chemotherapy (cancer medicine) is also given. Bone marrow transplantation is another type of treatment that is being studied for recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma. Sometimes very high doses of chemotherapy are necessary to wipe out rhabdomyosarcoma tumors that have become resistant to standard doses. These high doses of drugs, however, can destroy the bone marrow. Before chemotherapy treatment begins, marrow is removed from the bones and stored; the marrow is then replaced. This procedure is called an autologous bone marrow transplant.
