4 Steps to Take If Skin Cancer Runs in Your Family
Having a relative diagnosed with skin cancer like melanoma can naturally be concerning. Read on to learn more about how that affects your risk and the steps you can take to protect yourself.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Most people understand the importance of protecting their skin from the sun, especially given the fact that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in both the United States and around the world.
What you may not realize, however, is that in addition to protecting yourself from the more well-known kinds of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma — you’re also reducing your chances of Merkel cell carcinoma.
At his private practice in Santa Monica, California, Dr. Trevan Fischer uses the latest innovative techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancers like Merkel cell carcinoma. Here’s what he wants you to know about Merkel cell carcinoma, including its risk factors and treatments.
What is Merkel cell carcinoma?
Also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, Merkel cell carcinoma starts in the Merkel cells in the skin's top layer near the nerve endings that help you feel the sensation of touch.
While this type of cancer is rare, it is aggressive and can quickly spread to nearby lymph nodes and other areas of the body if it's not caught early and treated.
Signs and symptoms of Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma typically appears as a painless lump that grows quickly and is either flesh colored, red, blue, or purple.
It’s most often found on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, like your head, neck, arms, midsection, and legs. It can grow on the eyelids as well. Less frequently, it can appear on other areas of the body not in contact with sunlight.
What are the risk factors of Merkel cell carcinoma?
A number of risk factors can increase your likelihood of getting Merkel cell carcinoma. These include significant exposure to sunlight, tanning beds, and special treatment therapy for psoriasis.
Having a weakened immune system also raises your odds. Being white, male, over 50, and having had another kind of cancer are additional risk factors.
Diagnosis and treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma
If there’s cause for concern after Dr. Fischer examines your skin, he removes the lesion for a biopsy. If cancer is detected, often a small amount of tissue around the area is also removed to make sure all the cancer cells are gone.
A biopsy of the sentinel lymph node may also be done to determine if the cancer has spread.
Once Dr. Fischer has all of this information, he can make a recommendation for the best treatment options, which may include minimally invasive surgery.
If you have a discolored lump that has grown quickly in size or any other mark on your skin that is concerning, call our office or book an appointment online today for a thorough exam and expert treatment.
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