A 46-year-old member asked:
Does anyone know some information about merkel cell cancer?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Herbert Duvivieranswered
Hematology and Oncology 35 years experience
Rare type skin tumor: Merkel cell carcinoma (mcc) is an unusual and highly aggressive skin cancer and often appears in the elderly population. More than one half of all mccs occur on the head and neck. Mcc has a high propensity for local recurrence, as well as spread to distant sites.
For more info check wikipedia which seems to have a fairly good section on this tumor.
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Eric Whitmananswered
Surgical Oncology 38 years experience
Skin cancer: Merkel cell cancer is a malignancy that comes from cells in the skin related to neural components. It is usually on the head and neck but can occur anywhere. The treatment is surgery, wide excision with sentinel node biopsy since mcc can spread to lymph nodes. Radiation therapy is sometimes given to the area around the lymph nodes.
It's cause is unknown.
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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Ed Friedlander commented
Pathology 46 years experience
These things are vicious. Best to treat aggressively. GOod luck.
Aug 29, 2012
Similar questions
A 45-year-old member asked:
What are the tests for merkel cell cancer?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Barry Pressanswered
Plastic Surgery 46 years experience
Examination, biopsy: Some merkel cell cancers can be diagnosed by history and appearance. More often, a simple in-office biopsy and pathologic examination is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.
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5.8k viewsReviewed Mar 17, 2023
A 39-year-old member asked:
What are the symptoms of merkel cell cancer?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

Dr. Addagada Raoanswered
General Surgery 58 years experience
Painless skinnodule: Rare lethal skin cancer, rapidly spreads appear as painless fleshy skin nodule, in elderly, and in immuno suppressed individuals, arises from neuro endocrine cells of skin, resemble small cell cancers of lung by microscope..
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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