Skip to main content
Fr Donate
  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Rhabdomyosarcoma
  5. Treatment
  6. Metastatic
Print

Treatments for metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Rhabdomyosarcoma
  5. Treatment
  6. Metastatic
Print
Last medical review:

The following are treatment options for metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Metastatic RMS means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The healthcare team will suggest treatments based on your child's needs and work with you to develop a treatment plan.

Radiation therapy may be used to treat RMS that has spread to the brain, spinal cord or lungs.

Chemotherapy may also be used to treat metastatic RMS.

Surgery is not usually used to treat metastatic RMS.

Clinical trials

Children with cancer may be treated in a clinical trial. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, find and treat cancer. Find out more about clinical trials.

Expert review and references

  • Paul Nathan, MD, MSc, FRCPC
  • Normand Laperriere, MD, FRCPC
  • PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2020. https://www.cancer.gov/.

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.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

The Canadian Cancer Society is not responsible for the quality of the information or services provided by other organizations and mentioned on cancer.ca, nor do we endorse any service, product, treatment or therapy.

1-888-939-3333 | cancer.ca | © 2025 Canadian Cancer Society