ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about how many people learn they have this type of cancer each year. To see other pages in this guide, use the colored boxes on the right side of your screen, or click “Next” at the bottom.

About 350 people are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma each year. About 60% of childhood rhabdomyosarcomas are diagnosed in those under age 10. Rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for 3% of all new childhood cancers each year in the United States. It is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. The five-year survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with rhabdomyosarcoma depends on the tumor location, stage, and the child’s age.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. Estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with rhabdomyosarcoma. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer. Learn more about understanding statistics [2].

Source: American Cancer Society

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