How to prevent skin cancers like Merkel cell carcinoma that claimed life of Jimmy Buffett
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Beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett battled skin cancer for four years before succumbing to the disease last Friday.
While skin cancer is common, Merkel cell carcinoma, the particular type of skin cancer from which he suffered, is not.
About 2,000 cases of Merkel cell carcinoma, also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin or trabecular carcinoma, are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Merkel cell carcinoma, though far less common than other skin cancers, is one of the most dangerous and difficult to treat if it spreads.
Most skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Preventing skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma
Some risk factors for Merkel cell carcinoma, such as age, sex and skin color, are outside a person's control, but there are easy efforts, such as keeping your immune system strong and limiting exposure to UV rays, that may help lower the risk.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends getting vitamin D not through sun exposure but via diet or supplements.
Here's how to limit your exposure to UV rays, the most important way of lowering your risk of Merkel cell carcinoma and other skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society:
Stay in the shade
Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply throughout the day as recommended
Wear skin-covering, loose-fitting clothing
Wear a hat and sunglasses
Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps
People should make those efforts even on overcast days as the clouds don't fully block the sun's UV rays.
If caught early enough, the chance of living at least five years after receiving a diagnosis is about 75%, so early detection is key.
Regularly examine your skin and visit a doctor annually for checkups.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Is Merkel cell carcinoma, Jimmy Buffett's rare skin cancer, preventable?
