@lynnemerk1, welcome. I moved your post about being newly diagnosed with merkel cell carcinoma to this existing discussion:
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma: I'd like to hear from others https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/merkel-cell-carcinoma-1/

I did this so you can click the link to read previous comments and connect easily with members like @redneckchick501 @dreams @rogermcintire @sharris @wifedoro @penlandtr1 @mktz49 @jakefix82 and others who have experience with MCC and who understand that "panic" stage of a new diagnosis.

Lynne, what further testing has been scheduled to stage the cancer? How are you doing?

My husband has stage 4 MCC and is doing well..... he was diagnosed in july 2021 diagnosed at stage 3B and he started with 30 rounds of of radiation ....and then jan 24 it had metastasized to the thoracic region .....and was then put on Avelumab every other week. It is scary in the beginning ....but the immune therapy has really good results ....I wish you all the best

Hi @lynnemerk1 . You couldn’t just get normal skin cancer like the rest of us? You had to get a rare and special kind? Oh well. Anyway I found several articles on mayoclinic.org website search engine that might interest you. In the meantime perhaps one of the seven Merkel cell patients in the world might come forward with some specific help. Sorry I’m not much help but I did read if you smile, the cancer isn’t as noticeable.

My best suggestion is make sure you are scheduled for a Pet scan, this will produce staging info.
Get every first appointment possible.
Teaching hospitals are where you want to be, for me it was UVA. Fantastic experience there.
Also, start searching for your Dermatologist to be on your team.

Best of luck !

BuilderTom