Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare cancer that little children get in their extremities.

“Rhabdomyosarcoma is a fast-growing, highly malignant tumor which accounts for over half of the soft tissue sarcomas in children. Less frequently, other soft tissue sarcomas are found in children: fibrosarcoma, mesenchymoma, synovial sarcoma, and liposarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma often causes a noticeable lump on a child’s body. If the tumor is located internally, the symptoms depend on its location. For example, tumors in the nasal passage may put pressure on the eustachian tubes; a bladder tumor can cause trouble urinating; an orbital tumor may cause the eye to protrude.” (http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/diseases/rhabdo.html, 2005)

img_0281.JPGMore rarely, as in the case of my father, adults can present with this type of cancer. My father was 1 of 6 people in North America who had this cancer as an adult.

Photo left: My husband, Kenney, Me, my Mother & my Father - Christmas 2005

Therefore, no research is done on this type of adult onset cancer, and people in this situation are thrown into the gauntlet as doctors try anything they can think of at them. There is no specific treatment regimen, and most doctors are at a loss.

Basically, as the oncologist told my father on the 1st visit, this cancer will kill you. He gave my father 3 months when the tumor was the size of a marble. Scary, as this is a very aggressive cancer. My father lived 1 1/2 yrs, and this was a great blessing!

Help us inform people about this type of cancer, and the fact that almost no research is done, and give these patients hope!

I have created a group on Facebook called:

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Help Fight It & Inform Others

* I personally invite you all to join and interact with this group. Please share of your experiences…Knowledge is Power…If you can give 1 tip, it might just save a life, a family, a broken heart…

This group has discussions, posts, relevant links, video, photos and more…

img_0280.JPGThis Group is in Loving Memory of my father, Gerald M. Turner, the greatest man and father I have ever known.

***

I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Cancer Info Today! Until next time…

Live Healthy,

Kimberly Edwards ;D

P.S. Be sure to Subscribe to this blog by clicking on the orange icon at the top of this page…

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