04/09/2023
Jimmy Buffet died Friday following a four-year battle with Merkel cell skin cancer.The musician kept performing while undergoing treatment for skin cancer, and Buffet's last show was a surprise 45-minute appearance at a July 2 Mac McAnally show in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he brought the crowd to its feet screaming when he walked out. In 2022, his struggles with a then-undisclosed health issue became visible when he was hospitalized and forced to cancel several shows.According to a statement announcing his death, the 76-year-old "passed away peacefully" at home in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York. He was "surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs."So, what exactly is Merkel cell skin cancer? What causes it and who is at most risk? Here's what to know about the rare skin condition.According to The National Cancer Institute, Merkel cell skin cancer is a rare carcinoma in which malignant − meaning, cancerous − cells form in the skin. "Merkel cells are found in the top layer of the skin," the institute says. "These cells are very close to the nerve ending that receive the sensation of touch."Merkel cell carcinoma, also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin or trabecular cancer, forms when those Merkel cells grow out of control. It starts most often in areas where skin is exposed, especially the head and neck, as well as the arms, legs and trunk.Merkel cell carcinoma tends to metastasize at an early stage, spreading "first to nearby lymph nodes and then may spread to lymph nodes or skin in distant parts of the body, lungs, brain, bones or other organs," according to The National Cancer Institute.
