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If rhabdomyosarcoma spreads

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Rhabdomyosarcoma
  5. If cancer spreads
Print
Last medical review:

Cancer cells can spread from where they started to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your child's healthcare team plan treatment and future care. If rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) spreads, it can spread to the following:

  • lungs
  • bones
  • bone marrow
  • liver
  • distant muscles
  • distant lymph nodes
  • breasts
  • brain or spinal cord (called the central nervous system, or CNS)

Expert review and references

  • Paul Nathan, MD, MSc, FRCPC
  • Normand Laperriere, MD, FRCPC
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma. Provincial Health Services Authority. Musculoskeletal and Sarcoma. Vancouver, BC: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/. March 20, 2020.
  • PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Patient Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2019. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2020. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • Cripe TP. Medscape Reference: Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma. WebMD LLC; 2018. https://www.medscape.com/.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

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