The treatment approach for MCC depends on several factors, including the stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and the location of the tumor. Here are the common treatment options for MCC:
- Surgery:
- Wide Local Excision: The primary treatment for localized MCC is surgical removal of the tumor with a margin of healthy tissue around it.
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: This procedure helps determine if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- Radiation Therapy:
- Often used after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
- Can also be used as the primary treatment for patients who are not surgical candidates.
- Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses medicines that help a person’s own immune system find and destroy cancer cells. This is often a useful form of treatment for MCC, especially if it has spread to other parts of the body.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is not frequently used for treating Merkel cell carcinoma. When MCC is diagnosed before it has metastasized (spread), surgery and radiation therapy are more commonly recommended as treatment options. However, if the cancer is diagnosed after it has spread beyond the regional lymph nodes, chemotherapy may be recommended as a potential treatment option.
- Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually by focusing on specific molecules involved in the growth, progression, and spread of cancer. This approach differs from traditional chemotherapy, which generally attacks all rapidly dividing cells, both cancerous and normal.
- Clinical Trials: The GW Cancer Center's Cutaneous Oncology Program offers a variety of clinical trials. Patients can also enroll in our blood, tissue and database collection studies for melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
- Palliative Care: Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The primary goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. It is appropriate for patients of any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatment.
Effective Merkel cell carcinoma treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach involving GW Cancer Center dermatologists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care tailored to the patient's unique needs. Regular follow-up and monitoring by your GW Cancer Center multidisciplinary team are essential to assess the treatment's effectiveness and manage any side effects or complications.
