All information given here is of general nature only, a tumor therapy always belongs in the hands of an experienced oncologist!
How is rhabdomyosarcoma treated?
The therapy is always individually oriented and is therefore primarily dependent on the stage of the disease determined. It ranges from radical surgery to adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. As a rule, the individual components: chemotherapy (= killing the cancer cells with drugs), radiotherapy (= killing the cancer cells with high-dose X-ray radiation, possibly also with other high-energy radiation) and surgery are combined with each other.
Radiotherapy is used to kill or reduce the size of cancer cells. This is the therapeutic use of high-energy radiation, which can be administered either mechanically from outside (= external radiation therapy) or by introducing it into the diseased area (= internal radiation therapy). Within the scope of internal radiation therapy, so-called radioisotopes are introduced into the diseased area.
They act locally on site. The chemotherapy is intended to kill the cancer cells with medication. The way in which chemotherapy is carried out can vary (tablets, nasal or muscular injections).
Via the bloodstream, the drugs finally reach the entire body, so that in principle cancer cells can be combated throughout the body. From a medical point of view, this is referred to as a so-called “systemic therapy”. The most common form of treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma is surgery.
This involves the removal of tumor tissue as well as surrounding “healthy” tissue. In cases of recurrent rhabsomyosarcoma (renewed growth of the removed tumor), the treatment is again dependent on the location of the recurrence, following the explanations given above. However, in the context of a recurrence treatment, the previous history also plays a role.
This means that the new treatment is dependent on the initial treatment. The treating physician decides which form of treatment can be considered. Only he can collect detailed information and weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of specific forms of treatment.
- How much cancer tissue was removed in an oerative treatment?
- Did radiation take place?
- Implementation of chemotherapy?
