Preparing for an appointment

If there are signs and symptoms that worry you, you'll likely start by making an appointment with your primary care doctor — or the pediatrician if the concern is with your child. If your doctor suspects rhabdomyosarcoma, make sure you're referred to an experienced specialist.

Rhabdomyosarcoma typically needs to be treated by a team of specialists, which may include:

• Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in operating on cancers that affect the bones or muscles (orthopedic oncologists)
• Other surgeons, depending on the location of the tumor and patient age (for example, chest surgeons, pediatric surgeons or urologists)
• Doctors who specialize in treating cancer with chemotherapy or other systemic medications (medical oncologists or, for children, pediatric oncologists)
• Doctors who use radiation to treat cancer (radiation oncologists)
• Doctors who analyze tissue to diagnose the specific type of cancer (pathologists)
• Rehabilitation specialists who can help in recovery after surgery

What you can do

Before the appointment, make a list of:

• Signs and symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for the appointment
• Any medications being taken, including vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter medicines, and their dosages
• Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes

Also:

• Bring previous scans or X-rays (both the images and the reports) and any other medical records related to this situation
• Consider taking a relative or friend along to help you remember all the information provided during the appointment
• Prepare a list of questions to ask the doctor to make the most of your time

Whether the appointment is for you or for your child, your questions might include, for example:

• What type of cancer is this?
• Has the cancer spread?
• Are more tests needed?
• What are the treatment options?
• What are the chances that treatment will cure this cancer?
• What are the side effects and risks of each treatment option?
• Will treatment affect the ability to have children? If so, do you offer fertility preservation evaluations and services?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will likely ask several questions. Be ready to answer them to allow more time to cover other points you want to address. Whether the appointment is for you or for your child, the doctor may ask:

• What are the signs and symptoms that you're concerned about?
• When did you first notice these symptoms?
• Have the symptoms been continuous or occasional?
• How severe are the symptoms?
• What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms?