TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Source: Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: April 8, 2022 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the following:
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The patient's age.
Where in the body the tumor started.
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The size of the tumor at the time of diagnosis.
Whether the tumor has been completely removed by surgery.
The type of rhabdomyosarcoma (embryonal, alveolar, spindle cell/sclerosing, or pleomorphic).
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Whether there are certain changes in the genes.
Whether the tumor had spread to other parts of the body at the time of diagnosis.
Whether the tumor was in the lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis.
Whether the tumor responds to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
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For patients with recurrent cancer, prognosis and treatment also depend on the following:
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Where in the body the tumor recurred (came back).
How much time passed between the end of cancer treatment and when the cancer recurred.
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Whether the cancer was previously treated with radiation therapy.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice