A nurse is creating a plan of care for a pediatric client who has been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Which of the following factors should the nurse consider as the highest priority when planning treatment interventions?

A. Age of the child is important in determining the approach to treatment and potential outcomes, but the priority in planning treatment is addressing the extent of the disease, particularly whether it has spread. Age may influence treatment choices but is secondary to assessing metastasis. B. Range of motion in the affected area is important in managing functional outcomes, especially for tumors that affect muscles or joints, but the highest priority when planning care is understanding the extent of the disease, specifically metastasis, before focusing on rehabilitation. C. Health complications from the tumor are significant for symptom management and treatment planning, but the critical first step in treatment is determining the stage of the cancer and whether the tumor has spread. This information guides treatment decisions. D. Whether or not the tumor has metastasized is the highest priority. The spread of the tumor (metastasis) directly impacts the treatment plan and prognosis, influencing decisions such as the need for systemic therapies (chemotherapy) in addition to local treatments like surgery or radiation.