Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) and other mesenchymal sarcomas
They occur in soft tissues (muscles, nerves, fat, vessels, etc.) and concern all age groups, from early childhood to adolescence. RMS is the main representative of this group, before age 5 and in adolescence.
They can occur almost anywhere in the body. The main sites affected are the region of the head and neck, especially the orbital area, or adjoining the base of the skull (so-called parameningeal forms), and the genitourinary region (the bladder, and in girls, the vagina, and the uterus; in boys, the prostate and scrotum). Outside the local site, the disease can spread to the lymph nodes (especially in the “alveolar” type) and to distant organs such as the lungs and bones.
Without treatment, the disease can rapidly progress and cause signs of local compression such as blindness and urinary retention, followed by spreading further away. The treatment most often combines local and general chemotherapy and local treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). The long-term survival is about 70%, in purely local attacks.
The position of proton therapy
Particularly suitable for “high” attacks (the base of the skull, the orbit, ENT). The new spot scanning technologies make it possible to consider treatment for “low” ones (abdomen and pelvis) in the near future.
Schedule of irradiation
Daily sessions, spread over approximately 5 to 6 weeks.