The Israeli Top Ihilov Clinic has one of the strongest oncology departments in the country, whose specialists successfully deal with various types of cancer, including rare and insidious ones like rhabdomyosarcoma. Here, the latest medical technologies are applied, and the most advanced treatment and diagnostic methods, highly effective anti-tumour drugs, and state-of-the-art medical equipment are used, ensuring high results.
Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma in Israel always involves a comprehensive approach and takes into account the individual characteristics of the patient. When performed in a timely manner, it allows for complete elimination of the dangerous oncological formation, restoration of the affected organ's function, prevention of serious complications, and prevention of the malignant process from spreading to other tissues and systems of the body. In cases of advanced forms, the main efforts of Israeli doctors are directed at controlling the disease and maximizing the patient's condition.
Modern Treatment Methods for Rhabdomyosarcoma in Israel
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumour that originates from striated muscle cells, which make up the bulk of the body. Additionally, such tumours can sometimes develop in the connective and smooth muscle tissues of internal organs. They most commonly affect the limbs, head and neck area, as well as the organs of the pelvis. Rhabdomyosarcomas grow rapidly and can metastasize – secondary foci are usually found in bone tissues, lymph nodes, and the brain.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, such formations develop in children under ten years old and adolescents. They are less commonly found in adults. The treatment strategy at the Top Ihilov Clinic is developed considering the cellular type of the tumour, its size, location, extent of the oncological process, age, and condition of the patient. The main treatment methods for rhabdomyosarcoma in Israel include surgical intervention, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Surgical removal of the soft tissue tumour is performed within healthy tissues to ensure the destruction of the maximum number of cancer cells and reduce the risk of possible recurrence. Whenever possible, the neoplasm is completely excised; however, if its size, location, or proximity to vital organs does not allow for complete removal, Israeli surgeons perform partial resection with subsequent use of additional anti-cancer methods. Most often, the nearest lymph nodes are also excised along with the tumour, which helps reduce the likelihood of metastasis.
In cases of rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder, resection of the damaged wall is performed, or if cancer cells have spread over a large area of the organ, it is completely removed, subsequently forming an artificial urinary drainage pathway through surgical reconstruction. If the tumour has developed in the body of the uterus, it is usually removed along with the cervix. Surgical treatment also applies to metastases in the lungs (provided they are operable).
At the Top Ihilov Medical Center, gentle surgical techniques and robotic equipment are used, which helps reduce the volume of injured tissues, avoid the risk of postoperative complications, and shorten the recovery period.
Radiation therapy is an integral part of rhabdomyosarcoma treatment in Israel – numerous patient reviews confirm this. It is most often performed before and after surgery: in the first case, to reduce the size of the tumour, and in the second case, to reduce the likelihood of disease recurrence. It is also used to combat metastases. In most cases, radiotherapy yields good results, as the cells of soft tissue formations are sensitive to ionizing radiation – under its influence, they stop dividing and slow down growth.
In particular, intensity-modulated radiation therapy is highly effective, preceded by the creation of a three-dimensional model of the tumour, allowing for precise calculation of the power, shape, and direction of radioactive beams. As a result, cancer cells receive the necessary dose of radiation for their destruction, while the surrounding healthy tissues remain unharmed. To destroy rhabdomyosarcomas localized in internal organs, the Top Ihilov Clinic sometimes resorts to intratumoral radiation therapy, which is conducted using radioactive needles or granules that deliver radiation precisely to the tumour boundaries.
Chemotherapy most often precedes surgical intervention, stopping the growth of the tumour, reducing its size, and consequently making it easier for the surgeon to remove it. The type of drugs and the duration of treatment are individually tailored for each patient by Israeli doctors. Preference is given to new-generation chemotherapy agents that have increased efficacy and minimal toxicity.
Targeted therapy in many cases allows for increased effectiveness of anti-cancer therapy. It is based on the use of biological agents, most often monoclonal antibodies, which recognize and specifically destroy tumour cells, breaking them down at the molecular level.
High-Precision Diagnosis of Rhabdomyosarcoma in Israel
To make an accurate diagnosis, correctly determine the characteristics of the malignant neoplasm, and prescribe adequate treatment, specialists at the Top Ihilov Hospital use the most modern and precise equipment. With its help, they accurately determine the size of the tumour, its location, boundaries, degree of infiltration of surrounding tissues, and establish the presence or absence of metastases in regional lymph nodes and distant organs.
Considering that every day counts in cancer cases, the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma in Israel is conducted in the shortest possible time. Usually, all necessary procedures are completed within 3–4 working days, excluding possible waiting for the results of some laboratory tests. The entire process is generally implemented in three stages.
Stage 1: Consultation with the Leading Oncologist
Immediately upon arrival in Israel, the patient goes for an appointment with the attending physician, whom they have chosen in advance from among the leading oncologists in the country. They are accompanied to the hospital by a personal case manager, who coordinates the course of their medical program and acts as a translator. During the consultation, the doctor reviews the medical history, studies the medical documentation brought by the patient with the results of previously conducted examinations, and performs an examination during which they palpate the suspected tumour and note other manifestations of rhabdomyosarcoma.
After this, the doctor determines the list of necessary diagnostic checks.
Stage 2: Comprehensive Examination
Diagnosis in suspected muscle tissue tumours may include:
- ultrasound examination of the affected organ – to detect the tumour and assess its size;
- computed and/or magnetic resonance imaging – to determine the extent of the oncological process and detect possible metastases;
- PET-CT – to identify the smallest malignant foci and assess the effectiveness of ongoing treatment;
- biopsy – to determine the histological type of the neoplasm;
- bone scintigraphy – examination of bone tissues for metastases;
- X-ray examination of the chest or abdominal organs;
- bone marrow puncture – to establish or exclude bone marrow involvement;
- comprehensive blood tests, including tests for specific tumour markers.
Depending on the localization of the rhabdomyosarcoma, additional procedures such as rhinoscopy, pharyngoscopy, otoscopy, nephroscintigraphy, etc., may be assigned.
Stage 3: Determining Therapeutic Tactics
After completing all diagnostic procedures, an expert group consisting of specialists from various fields is assembled: oncologist, orthopaedist, surgeon, radiologist, chemotherapist, and others. They review and carefully study the examination results and, based on them, develop the optimal therapy scheme for the patient.
Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment in Israel: Cost
It is not possible to name the exact cost of treatment before it begins, as it is formed individually each time, taking into account the type of tumour and its size, the extent of the malignant process in surrounding tissues and distant organs, the methods of treatment and diagnosis used, the type and volume of surgical intervention, the cost of medications used, and much more. The final cost is announced by the doctors at Top Ihilov only after they have thoroughly examined the patient and approved the treatment plan.
When comparing prices of foreign clinics, it becomes evident that the cost of treating rhabdomyosarcoma in Israel is on average 30–50% lower than in Western Europe and the USA, making it attractive for thousands of medical tourists.
Five Reasons to Choose Top Ihilov Clinic for Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment
- Highly qualified specialists with extensive clinical experience.
- State-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment.
- Advanced anti-cancer techniques that combine effectiveness and safety.
- Innovative medications.
- Individual approach, five-star service.