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Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant (cancerous) soft tissue tumor found most often in children. Diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma is often delayed because of lack of symptoms, and because the tumor may appear at the same time as a recent injury. Early diagnosis is important because rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive tumor that spreads quickly. Luckily, we found Chase's tumor before the tumor had spread to any other parts of his little body.
TREATMENT The precise treatment depends on the site and type of rhabdomyosarcoma. In general, surgery and radiation therapy are used to treat the primary site of the tumor, while chemotherapy is used to treat disease at all sites in the body. So far, Chase has had a major surgery removing the tumor in its entirety and received many doses of chemotherapy. This is due to the location of the tumor in the paraspinal mass. Radiation is not an option for such a small baby at this time as it would pose threats to his heart and lungs. Chemotherapy is an essential part of treatment to prevent further spread of the cancer. Many different chemotherapy drugs are active against rhabdomyosarcoma. Our new protocol includes six different chemotherapies. The cause of rhabdomyosarcoma is unknown. It is a rare tumor with only several hundred new cases per year throughout the United States. Some children with certain birth defects are at increased risk, and some families have a gene mutation that elevates risk. However, the vast majority of children with rhabdomyosarcoma do not have any known risk factors. This includes our family! More information:
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