About this topic
Cancer happens when normal cells grow out of control. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a common type of cancer. It grows inside the soft tissues of your childs body. Soft tissues include fat, blood vessels, muscles, cartilage, and bones. ‚
Rhabdomyosarcoma most often happens as a lump or swelling. Cancer cells may spread and get worse in time when not treated right away. This kind of cancer is treated in a number of ways. They may include surgery, radiation, or drugs called chemo. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- If your child had surgery, follow the doctors orders for wound care.
- If your child is having chemo or radiation, the doctor may give drugs to help stop your child from feeling sick or other side effects.
- If the leg was affected, your child may need to use crutches.
- Wash your hands and your child's hands more often. Teach your child how to wash hands properly and regularly.
- Keep your child away from people who are sick including those with colds, flu, measles, or other contagious illnesses.
- Have your child wear a mask when going outdoors. Keep your child away from public or crowded places.
- Learn how to cope and support your child feelings in any way. Tell family and friends about your child's cancer and allow people to help.
- Consider joining a support group. This can help you understand and deal with your child's illness.
What follow-up care is needed?
- The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your child may need more blood work, tests, or treatment.
- Your child may need to have physical therapy after surgery. This will help restore strength and motion to the affected part.
What drugs may be needed?
Ask your doctor what drugs your child will need to take. Give your child drugs as ordered by the doctor. The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Kill cancer cells
- Help with pain
- Help with side effects like upset stomach and throwing up
- Prevent infection
- Keep blood cell counts up
Will physical activity be limited?
- Rest is important. Your childs activity level will depend on the procedure or treatment. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for your child. Ask your doctor when your child can go back to normal activities.
- Your doctor may suggest physical therapy for strengthening. Let your child do light activity. Start with walking and light exercises.
What changes to diet are needed?
- Give your child small meals often throughout the day.
- Encourage your child to take sips of water. This will help to replace lost fluids in throwing up and loose stools. This may be easier than drinking large amounts at one time.
- The doctor may order nutrition supplements to help keep your childs fluids up.
- If your child has trouble swallowing, eating soft foods and soups may be easier.
- Give your child foods that are well-cooked. Check the foods before giving them to your child. Make sure they are properly cooked.
- Do not give your child foods that have been refrigerated for more than 2 days.
- Wash fruits and vegetables well before giving them to your child. Avoid raw sprouts.
What problems could happen?
- Too much bleeding
- Infections
- Need for blood or platelet transfusion
- Your child will not be able to have babies. This is called infertility.
- Cancer comes back
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
- Throwing up that is not helped by drugs
- New lump or mass that may or may not be painful
- Nosebleed, nasal stuffiness, trouble swallowing
- Headache, bulging eyes, eyesight problems, swelling or pain in the eye
- Hearing loss, very bad pain or swelling of the ear
- Trouble passing urine or stool, other urine problems
- Belly pain or bloody stools and urine
- Bad muscle pain
- Health problem is not better or your child is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what kind of treatment my child will be having.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has a fever, chills, or sudden chest pain.
Where can I learn more?
American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/Rhabdomyosarcoma/DetailedGuide/rhabdomyosarcoma-what-is-rhabdomyosarcoma ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/cancer/rms.html# ‚
National Cancer Institute ‚
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childrhabdomyosarcoma/Patient#Keypoint1 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚