4. MCC Stage IV: Distant Horizons
Stage 4 is where Merkel-cell Carcinoma shows its full might. The cancer has now spread to distant organs, breaking the barriers that once confined it. Lungs, liver, brain, or even bones could now be hosting these cancer cells, making the situation critically complex.
Upon visual examination, the skin might not always reveal the severity lurking beneath. Sometimes, the tumor might even regress, leaving the skin, while the cancer cells embark on their invasive journey internally. This deceptive nature makes Stage 4 especially challenging, both for diagnosis and treatment.
However, technological advances have introduced methods to detect such distant metastasis. Imaging tests can reveal shadows or spots in organs, indicative of MCC’s presence. Moreover, the patterns of spread offer intriguing insights. For instance, the lungs are often the first distant site MCC targets. (4)
