Welcome! Defeating Merkel cell carcinoma begins here.

The critical first step is to find a Merkel cell carcinoma specialist.

It is critical that each case be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team, including surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and dermatologists with significant experience in managing MCC, in order to develop a plan for the patient.

To find healthcare professionals experienced with Merkel cell carcinoma, start with our list of verified specialists.

Find a Specialist

Make sure your primary care team is knowledgeable and takes action.

Merkel cell carcinoma is rare, and it's common for many medical professionals to be unsure of where to start. When a diagnosis occurs, it is imperative that your medical team is knowledgeable and able to carry out an MCC specialist's plan.

Our clinical team recommends that all healthcare providers follow the NCCN guidelines for MCC to bring them up to speed on MCC and how to care for MCC patients.

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Consider joining a patient-based group

A diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma is a life-changing experience. Support from others—in the form of advice, recommendations for local healthcare providers, or sharing personal victories—can help ease the burden many MCC patients and their families feel.

We encourage you to make connections; it’s been proven to help.

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The latest advancements in treatment

Prognosis of Merkel cell carcinoma patients with autoimmune disorders, other types of immune dysfunction, or immunocompetent status: Analysis of 762 patients

Autoimmune diseases happen when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. Common examples include arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). People with these conditions may have an immune system that does not work properly because of their disease or the medications they take ...

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Avelumab in the Treatment of Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Avelumab, also known as Bavencio, is an immunotherapy (drug that helps the immune system fight cancer) used to treat MCC. To get a bigger picture of how well avelumab works for treating MCC, researchers looked at results from 48 different studies. 1,565 patients treated with avelumab were included, ...

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Genetic Risk Factors for Early-Onset Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Only 4% of MCC cases happen in people under 50 years old – this is called early-onset MCC. Researchers wanted to know if early-onset MCC patients got MCC so young because of any differences in their genes that might make them more likely to develop cancer. In a study of about 1,000 people (37 with...

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