What is the survival rate for Merkel cell carcinoma?
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What is the survival rate for Merkel cell carcinoma?
The five-year survival rate for Merkel cell carcinoma is improving. Patients with localized Merkel cell carcinoma have a 78% survival rate while those whose cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other nearby structures have a 52% survival rate.
What are the symptoms of Merkel cell carcinoma?
Merkel cell carcinoma can look like a sore.
What virus causes Merkel cell carcinoma?
Merkel cells are connected to the nerve endings in the skin that are responsible for the sense of touch. Researchers recently discovered that a common virus plays a role in causing most cases of Merkel cell carcinoma. The virus (Merkel cell polyomavirus) lives on the skin and doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms.
Can Merkel cell carcinoma be cured?
Merkel Cell Carcinoma Treatment. Merkel cell carcinoma is frequently curable with surgical and nonsurgical therapies, particularly if caught early. Treatments are often highly individualized, depending on a patient’s general health, as well as the tumor’s location, size, depth, and degree of spread.
How long do you live with Stage 4 Merkel cell carcinoma?
Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed….5-year relative survival rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.
| SEER stage | 5-year relative survival rate |
|---|---|
| All SEER stages combined | 64% |
Which is worse melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma?
Merkel cell carcinoma is more deadly than melanoma, with approximately 1/3 of all diagnosed patients dying from the disease. It most often occurs in the elderly or those with a weakened immune system. It appears as a rapidly growing, non painful red nodule that can quickly metastasize.
