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Every year 400-500 people get rhabdomyosarcoma. This aggressive type of oncology mainly appears in children – more than half of the affected are under 10 years old. Boys have a slightly higher disease rate.
Modern medicine provides many opportunities for rhabdomyosarcoma treatment . The five-year survival rate of patients treated in foreign clinics reaches 71%.
You can find out how rhabdomyosarcoma is treated in foreign clinics and how much it costs in this article.
What is Rhabdomyosarcoma?
Rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon type of soft tissue cancer. Most often tumours develop from skeletal muscle tissue or hollow organs.
Genetic predisposition increases the likelihood of the disease. If the child has a blood relative who has suffered from any type of cancer, they are more likely to get rhabdomyosarcoma. The risk is also higher for congenital diseases such as neuromatosis, Noonan’s syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwitt-Wiedemann syndrome, Costello syndrome.
Rhabdomyosarcoma most commonly occurs in:
bladder;
reproductive organs such as vagina, uterus, testicles;
head and neck muscles;
arm and leg muscles.
Symptoms depend on where cancer originated. The patient may feel compaction, discomfort or pain at the original tumour site. They can also suffer from bleeding or malfunctioning of the affected organ.
The prognosis can vary depending on the location and size of the tumour, its stage, and the presence of metastases. Even with successful treatment, the patient should be closely monitored and regularly checked by an oncologist throughout their subsequent life.
Читать: How’s the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma made?
If after the examination of the patient the doctor suspects cancer presence, they may prescribe the following diagnostic tests:
| X-ray | With the help of X-rays, the doctor can detect lumps inside organs or on the surface of muscles. |
| CT | This procedure involves placing the patient in a scanner, which uses X-rays layer by layer to show the body’s condition. |
| MRI | It is a CT-like scanner, but it uses a magnetic field as the main mechanism. This method is particularly effective in detecting soft tissue tumours. |
| PET | When performing a PET scan, the patient is injected with a contrast agent that can be illuminated under positron irradiation. It is almost completely absorbed by tumour cells, which are particularly active in interaction with this substance due to metabolic processes. The malignancies that absorb a high amount of reagent is visible in the images. Contrast leaves the body in a few hours. |
| Biopsy | To determine the type of cancer, cell structure, and gene mutations, it is necessary to analyze the tumour cells in the laboratory. For this purpose, the doctor extracts them using a special needle. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. If the tumour is close to the surface of the skin, the doctor can use a scalpel instead of a needle. The doctor may also prescribe a bone marrow biopsy to see if the cancer process has spread there. |
Treatment options for rhabdomyosarcoma abroad
To treat rhabdomyosarcoma oncologists use combinations of different methods – surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. The choice of treatment scheme depends on the age of the patient, associated risks, as well as the location and stage of cancer.
Surgery
Always used in the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma. With its help, the surgeon tries to fully remove cancer tumours from the body. During the procedure, the specialist can also perform a lymph node biopsy to determine if cancer reached the organ.
Radiotherapy
Irradiation is a usage of high doses of irradiation to destroy cancer cells. It can be done before surgery to reduce the tumour, or after surgery to remove the remaining malignant cells.
Chemotherapy
These are drugs that are highly toxic to cancer tumours. For rhabdomyosarcoma, they’re most commonly taken intravenously. Chemotherapy is always done after surgery to reduce the relapse risk. It can also be prescribed before the surgery to reduce malignancy.
Sometimes, after the chemotherapy patients may require a bone marrow transplant.
What affects the price of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in foreign clinics?
The cost of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in foreign clinics depends on many factors: the level of the clinic, the qualification of the doctor, the stage of the disease, the location of the tumour, the treatment scheme.
The exact price can only be determined after the comprehensive examination. At this stage, the doctor will be able to tell the treatment price and duration of hospitalization.
Rhabdomyosarcoma Therapy in Turkey
Many parents choose Turkey for cancer treatment because of the price-quality balance. Medicine in this country is usually 30-40% cheaper than in Europe. However, Turkish doctors regularly receive international awards for their achievements in medicine, and hospitals hold prestigious JCI and ISO quality certificates.
Turkish Cancer Centers
Memorial Clinic Network;
Koç University Hospital;
Medical Park Clinic Network.
Turkish doctors who treat rhabdomyosarcoma:
Professor Ertuğrul Gazioğlu – a doctor with over 40 years of experience. A talented surgeon-oncologist. Member of many medical communities, among others: Turkish Surgical Association, International Society of Surgery, Balkan Medical Association.
Professor Hilmi Apak. Children’s oncologist, who has been working in this field for over 40 years. He has written 75 scientific publications in prestigious medical journals.
The price of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in Turkey
| Procedure | Cost of diagnostics |
|---|---|
| MRI | from $700 |
| CT | from $600 |
| Biopsy | from $1,300 |
| Procedure | Cost of treatment |
|---|---|
| Surgical tumor removal | from $12,000 |
| Radiation Therapy | from $400 per session |
| Chemotherapy | from $1,400 per course |
Rhabdomyosarcoma therapy in Spain
Spain ranks 7th in the world by the quality of medical services. Over 2.4 million operations are performed here annually. The survival rate of children with oncological diseases is over 70%. Spanish doctors are known all over the world and regularly appear on FORBES top lists.
Cancer Centers in Spain
University Clinic of Navarra;
Quiron Madrid Clinic;
Quiron Torrevieja Clinic;
Spanish doctors who treat rhabdomyosarcoma:
Dr Jaume Capdevila Castillón – a renowned oncologist at the Teknon Clinic. Member of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and other organizations. Author of more than 50 medical articles.
Dr. Salvador Villà a specialist in radiology and radiochemotherapy. Coordinator of many studies in radiation therapy. Member of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the Catalan-French Cancer Group, and other communities. Author of 19 books and 50 articles.
Price of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in Spain
| Procedure | Cost of diagnostics |
|---|---|
| MRI | from €850 |
| CT | from €700 |
| Biopsy | from €1,700 |
| Procedure | Cost of treatment |
|---|---|
| Surgical removal of tumour | from €17,000 |
| Radiation Therapy | from €600 per session |
| Chemotherapy | from €1,900 per course |
Rhabdomyosarcoma therapy in Israel
Israel is one of the most popular countries for the treatment of childhood cancer. In this country, the survival rate of young patients is one of the highest in the world. This result is achieved through the close work of multidisciplinary committees of doctors working on each cancer case. This country offers medical developments that are not yet available in Europe or the USA.
Cancer Centers in Israel
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov);
Assuta Medical Center;
Sheba Clinic;
Schneider Children’s Hospital;
Hadassah University Hospital.
Israeli doctors who treat rhabdomyosarcoma:
Professor Ofer Mirimsky – an oncologist with over 40 years of experience. Specializes in the treatment of tumours of soft tissues. 90% of his patients can avoid amputation. He is the author of more than 160 scientific works.
Professor Isaac Yaniv – the chairman of the Israeli Society for Child Oncology and Hematology. He performed the country’s first stem cell transplant on a child in 1992. He is an Honorary Member of the Executive Committee of SIOPEN, EBMT Pediatric Council, and a consultant to the Israeli Ministry of Health.
Price of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in Israel
| Procedure | Cost of diagnostics |
|---|---|
| MRI | from $1,200 |
| CT | from $800 |
| Biopsy | from $2,000 |
| Procedure | Cost of treatment |
|---|---|
| Surgical tumor removal | from $18,500 |
| Radiation Therapy | from $500 per session |
| Chemotherapy | from $2,000 per course |
Rhabdomyosarcoma therapy in Germany
Germany has extensive experience in the treatment of childhood oncology. The success rate of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in Germany is 75-90%. German clinics always use cutting-edge equipment, thus achieving highly precise diagnostics. Accuracy and responsibility in the selection of treatment and procedures are the key to the reputation of German doctors as leaders in medicine.
German Cancer Centres
Ludwig-Maximilian University Hospital;
Helios Clinic Group;
Rechts der Isar Clinic;
Asklepios Medical Center.
German doctors who treat rhabdomyosarcoma:
Professor Klaus Schaarschmidt specializes in pediatric surgery and oncology. Chief doctor at the Helios Clinic Surgery Department. In 1995, he received the prestigious Mikulicz-Kelling award for achievements in endoscopic surgery.
Professor Fuat Oduncu – he works in the treatment of soft tissue tumours. Winner of the Vincenz Czerny award from the German Association for Hematology and Oncology. Author of over 200 publications.
Price of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in Germany
| Procedure | Cost of diagnostics |
|---|---|
| MRI | from €1,000 |
| CT | from €700 |
| Biopsy | from €1,900 |
| Procedure | Cost of treatment |
|---|---|
| Surgical removal of the tumour | from €17,000 |
| Radiation Therapy | from €700 per session |
| Chemotherapy | from €1,900 per course |
Summary
Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive form of cancer that is most commonly found in children.
The five-year survival rate of patients is 71%. The effectiveness of the therapy depends on the stage of the disease and the location of the tumour.
Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma is available in the best medical centres of Turkey, Germany, Israel, and Spain. Turkish clinics are the cheapest for patients.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive disease, the treatment of which cannot be delayed. To make an appointment with a foreign doctor, click “Get a free consultation”. Our coordinating physicians will call you back and help you choose a hospital and organize your trip.
