ECPC Awareness Campaign on Merkel Cell Carcinoma (Guest blog)
25.05.20
Every year in May, just before the summer comes to the full strength, the whole world commemorates the Skin Cancer Awareness Month to remind the public about the importance of sun-safe habits and regular check-ups of the skin. This year, at the European Cancer Patient Coalition we have launched our first awareness campaign on Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) to raise awareness on this rare but extremely aggressive form of skin cancer known to have a 25 – 40% chance of recurring and spreading in two to three years after the first diagnosis.
MCC is 40 times rarer and three to five times more deadly than melanoma, with a 5-year survival rate of 50% - 76%, depending on how much the disease has metastasized. Given the rarity yet severity of this cancer, it is crucial to diagnose and initiate the treatment early and this might be challenging. Even though MCC usually appears on the skin surface, the diagnosis is not so straightforward as MCC is often misdiagnosed. Delays in detection lead to late diagnosis and treatment, such that recurrences are common and successful treatment outcome is difficult to achieve.
MCC is 40 times rarer and three to five times more deadly than melanoma, with a 5-year survival rate of 50% - 76%, depending on how much the disease has metastasized. Given the rarity yet severity of this cancer, it is crucial to diagnose and initiate the treatment early and this might be challenging. Even though MCC usually appears on the skin surface, the diagnosis is not so straightforward as MCC is often misdiagnosed. Delays in detection lead to late diagnosis and treatment, such that recurrences are common and successful treatment outcome is difficult to achieve.
