Jimmy Buffett's Killer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma and What to Know

Editor's Note: Special Message To Topless Motorists:
Bad Things Do Not Go Away By Themselves,,,Don't Be A Fruitcake, Save Yourself Get It Treated

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 8, 2023 -- The death of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett is raising questions about skin cancer, and experts at Thompson Cancer Survival Center are providing answers to spread awareness and promote prevention.

David Chism, MD and Grant Clark, MD, are sharing the top things to know about Merkel cell carcinoma.

MCC is rare, with less than 2,500 cases per year in the USA. By comparison, around 100,000 cases of melanoma are reported yearly, and the average number of squamous/basal cell skin cancers each year hovers around five million.
MCC is aggressive and has a high morbidity rate. Dr. Chism most commonly sees MCC in older men, those with light-toned skin, and it often develops in places on the body that receive a lot of UV light exposure. The immune-suppressed are also at a higher risk.
MMC lesions appear a little differently than classic melanoma or squamous/basal cell skin cancer; the lesions will be firm nodules imbedded in the skin, and this type of cancer is known to grow rapidly.
"Merkel cell carcinoma tends to be more aggressive – meaning it more often comes back around the area where it was surgically removed and it spreads more often," Dr. Clark says. "It is still often curable if caught early, but it spreads to other parts of the body – including lymph nodes – at a quicker pace and once it has spread it can be fatal."
"Like with other skin cancers, and for overall skin health, using a sunscreen for prolonged sun exposure is recommended," Dr. Clark says, adding that he prefers sunscreens that are mineral-based.
"Avoid mid-day sun exposure and use sunscreen with reapplication as needed," Dr. Chism says. "Protect sun-exposed areas of the skin and avoid tanning beds."
If you already have a history of other skin cancers such as basal cell or cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, be especially vigilant about protecting your skin and be aware of any new growths or changes.

Read more about what our experts had to say about Merkel cell carcinoma here.

About Thompson Cancer Survival Center
For more than 30 years, Thompson Cancer Survival Center has brought world-class cancer care to East Tennessee. Our expert physicians and multidisciplinary teams use the most advanced medical technologies to achieve breakthrough treatment successes. Thompson Cancer Survival Center is a member of Covenant Health. Learn more at CovenantHealth.com/Thompson-Cancer-Survival-Center.

SOURCE Covenant Health

Thoughts Of Grant's Nashama*

Tearfully composed by Grandpa

Grant left us, our wonderful boy has gone,
but he left us his music.
Like musicians that pass
Grant left us music,
music just as sweet,
just as moving,
just as memorable.

He left us the sweet sounds of love of friendship,
he left us appreciation,
sharing, enthusiasm, giving, bravery
and smiles always smiles.

He is physically gone from us but
never his music

Grant left that for all of us,
to compose with forever.

*The soul, or Neshamah in Jewish thought, is the self, the "I" that inhabits the body and acts through it.. There are many words for the soul in Hebrew, but the most commonly used are nefesh and neshamah—both of which mean “breath.” In Genesis, the soul is described as G‑d ’s own breath animating us: “And G‑d breathed into his nostrils the breath of life."