Rhabdomyosarcoma - Childhood - Symptoms and Signs
ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about body changes and other things that can signal a problem that may need medical care. To see other pages in this guide, use the colored boxes on the right side of your screen, or click “Next” at the bottom.
Children with rhabdomyosarcoma may experience the following symptoms or signs. Sometimes, children with rhabdomyosarcoma do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom or sign on this list, please talk with your child’s doctor.
Because rhabdomyosarcoma occurs most often in areas that cause noticeable symptoms, it is often diagnosed early. A small, visible, painless lump often forms near the surface of the body, where it is more easily spotted. The symptoms of a less obvious tumor can vary depending on where it is located in the body. A larger tumor may cause pain if it is pushing on nerves or other areas of the body.
|
Location of Tumor |
Symptom |
|
Nasal cavity |
Nosebleed Symptoms similar to a sinus infection |
|
Ear |
Earaches, bleeding, or discharge from the ear canal Mass growing from the ear canal |
|
Behind the eye |
May cause the eye to bulge or swell May make the child look cross-eyed |
|
Bladder, urinary tract, vagina, or testicle |
May cause blood in the urine and make urinating difficult Bleeding from the vagina Mass growing from the vagina Rapid growth around the testicles |
|
Abdomen or pelvis |
Abdominal pain Vomiting Constipation |
|
Arm or leg muscle |
Mass, growth, lump, bump, or swelling in the leg or arm that may or may not be painful |
If the cancer has spread, the child may experience a chronic cough, bone pain, enlarged lymph nodes, weakness, or weight loss.
Your child’s doctor will ask you questions about the symptoms your child is experiencing to help find out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis [2]. This may include how long your child has been experiencing the symptom(s) and how often.
If cancer is diagnosed, relieving symptoms and side effects remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. This may also be called symptom management, palliative care, or supportive care. Be sure to talk with your child’s health care team about symptoms your child experiences, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.
Choose “Next” (below, right) to continue reading this guide to learn about what tests and scans your child may have to learn more about the cause of the symptoms. Or, use the colored boxes located on the right side of your screen to visit any section.