Guide To The Major Symptoms Of Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a form of cancerous growth that originates in the cells that make up the skeletal muscles. Smooth muscles are in charge of activities considered involuntary, where skeletal muscles are responsible for the voluntary activities in the body. Skeletal cells are distributed all around an individual's body, allowing rhabdomyosarcoma to form in just about any part. Rhabdomyosarcoma rarely develops in adults and more commonly occurs in children younger than five years old.

The causes of rhabdomyosarcoma in most individuals are unclear, but genetic factors play a role in a small portion of patients. A rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis is made with the help of urine tests, blood tests, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasound, PET scan, bone scan, tumor biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, and lumbar puncture. Treatment for most cases of rhabdomyosarcoma includes surgical excision, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Swelling In The Affected Area

Individuals who develop rhabdomyosarcoma may experience swelling in the affected area. Rhabdomyosarcoma development is most prevalent in areas of the body that include the neck, parameningeal sites, eyelid, orbit, testicular region, urinary bladder, female genitourinary tract, prostate, chest wall, and retroperitoneum. When a patient's rhabdomyosarcoma originates in their chest, arm, groin, neck, or back, the first symptom that becomes apparent may be localized swelling around the tumor. This swelling may not cause the patient any pain, or it may be very painful and cause redness depending on where it is located.

If an individual develops rhabdomyosarcoma around their eye, the swelling produced by the tumor may cause their eye to bulge in an outward direction. Swelling around the eye can also result in the appearance of being cross-eyed and or adverse effects on vision. Many patients do not seek medical care based on this symptom because it can be caused by several different conditions or an injury.

Issues With Bowel Movements

An individual affected by rhabdomyosarcoma in certain tissues located in and around the gastrointestinal tract may experience issues with bowel movements. The most common locations for rhabdomyosarcoma that produce symptoms related to bowel movements are on or around the bladder, testicles, prostate, vagina, and intestinal tract. Rhabdomyosarcoma that grows large and is in a location on a patient's bladder or any sexual pelvic organs may cause the bowel to become obstructed. A patient who develops a small rhabdomyosarcoma within their intestinal tract can also experience a bowel obstruction.

Symptoms indicative of intestinal obstruction related to rhabdomyosarcoma include nausea, vomiting, constipation, crampy abdominal pain, appetite loss, and an inability to pass gas. Symptoms from rhabdomyosarcoma that develops in the abdomen or pelvis may also be very subtle and include changes in bowel movement frequency and stool consistency.