Merkel cell cancer (patient information)

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Merkel cell cancer

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Merkel cell cancer?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Merkel cell cancer On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Merkel cell cancer

Videos on Merkel cell cancer

FDA on Merkel cell cancer

CDC on Merkel cell cancer

Merkel cell cancer in the news

Blogs on Merkel cell cancer

Directions to Hospitals Treating Merkel cell cancer

Risk calculators and risk factors for Merkel cell cancer

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Merkel cell carcinoma is a very rare and highly aggressive skin cancer. Merkel cell carcinoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. When merkel cell carcinoma spreads to the lymph nodes, the average 5-year survival rate for a patient with merkel cell carcinoma is less than 50 percent. Recurrence may occur in up to half of all the patients with merkel cell carcinoma. Merkel cell cancer usually occurs on either the face, head, or neck. Patients with merkel cell carcinoma usually present with a rapid growing, firm, painless, red/violaceous skin lesion. Merkel cell carcinoma usually metastasizes first to regional lymph nodes and then to other organs, and spreads to other parts of the body, especially the liver, lungs, brain and bones. The predominant therapy for merkel cell carcinoma is surgical resection, but chemoradiation may also be required in more advanced disease.

What are the symptoms of Merkel cell cancer?

Rapid growing, painless and small mass that typically located on a sun exposed area of the body

What causes Merkel cell cancer?

Common causes of merkel cell carcinoma include:

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

when patients experience the following:

Treatment options


Where to find medical care for Merkel cell cancer?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Merkel cell cancer

Prevention of Merkel cell cancer

Primary prevention of merkel cell cancer includes avoidance of excessive sun exposure and use of sunscreen.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Source

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