Neuroendocrine Cancer UK is supporting Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive skin cancer, primarily affecting older patients, and thought to arise from the cutaneous Merkel cell, a neuroendocrine cell. The exact cause of MCC is not known.
Factors strongly associated with the development of Merkel cell carcinoma MCC are:
– Age over 50 years
– Fair skin
– History of extensive UV exposure
– Chronic immunosuppression (eg kidney or heart transplantation, HIV)
– Merkel cell polyomavirus – a virus discovered to live harmlessly on the skin in most healthy people. However in some people the virus may get trapped in the cell by mistake, which can lead to cancer development. The virus within the cell cannot spread – MCC is not contagious.
Further information on MCC can be found on our website ➡️ https://www.neuroendocrinecancer.org.uk/neuroendocrine-cancer/neuroendocrine-cancer-by-primary-secondary-sites/skin-mcc/
Information about NICE’s recent approval of Avelumab can be found here ➡️ https://www.neuroendocrinecancer.org.uk/nice-approves-avelumab/
Or on the NICE website ➡️ https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA691