Ukuthi yini i-Merkel Cell Carcinoma? Izimpawu, Izimbangela, Nokwelashwa

I-Merkel cell carcinoma uhlobo oluyimfihlo kodwa olukhulu lomdlavuza wesikhumba oluvela ezicellulweni ezikhethekile ebizwa ngokuthi yi-Merkel cells, ezitholakala ezingeni eliphezulu lesikhumba sakho. Lezi zicellulu zikusiza ukuthi uzizwe uthinta ukukhanya futhi zivame kakhulu ezindaweni ezinjengentloko, intamo, nezingalo ezithola ukukhanya kwelanga njalo.

Nakuba lo mdlavuza ungavamile, uthinta abantu abacishe babe ngu-3,000 e-United States unyaka ngamunye, ukhula futhi usakazeka ngokushesha kunamanye ama-skin cancers. Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi uma utholakala ngokushesha, ukwelashwa kungaba nomphumela omuhle kakhulu, nokuqonda izimpawu zokuqala kungakusiza ukuthi ufunuke ukunakekelwa ngokushesha uma kudingeka.

Zithini izimpawu ze-Merkel cell carcinoma?

Isici esivame kakhulu se-Merkel cell carcinoma yisibopho esingenabuhlungu, esiqinile noma i-nodule esikhumbeni sakho esiveleka ngokuzumayo futhi sikhulise ngokushesha. Le sibopho ngokuvamile inobuso obukhanyayo, obukhanyayo futhi ingaba nombala oqala ukusuka obomvu kuya opurple kuya kombala wesikhumba.

Nazi izimpawu ezibalulekile okufanele uzilandele, ukhumbule ukuthi ukutholakala kwangaphambi kwesikhathi kwenza umehluko omkhulu empumelelweni yokwelashwa:

• Isibopho esikhula ngokushesha, esingenabuhlungu noma i-lump esikhumbeni esikhombisa ilanga
• I-nodule eqinile, enesimo se-dome ezwakala ehlukile kwezinye izibopho ongazibeka
• Ubuso obukhanyayo noma obukhanyayo esibophweni, ngokuvamile ngombala obomvu, opurple, noma oluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka
• Ubuhlungu obungapheli noma obuphinde bubuyele emuva kokubonakala sengathi buphilisile
• Ama-lymph nodes avuvukile eduze kwendawo lapho isibopho sivela khona

Abantu abaningi baphawula lezi zibopho ezikhanda zabo, ezintamo, ezingalweni, noma ezinyaweni njengoba lezi zindawo zithola ukukhanya kwelanga okuningi. Isibopho singaba sincane kunedime uma uqala ukuyiphawula, kodwa singaba ngokuphindwe kabili ngobukhulu phakathi kwamasonto noma izinyanga.

Kubalulekile ukuphawula ukuthi abanye abantu baba nezimpawu ezingavamile. Lezi zingafaka isibopho esiphuza kalula uma sithintwa, izinguquko ezingeni lesikhumba eduze kwendawo, noma ukuzwakala okuthambile kuma-lymph nodes aseduze. Khumbula, noma iyiphi into entsha noma eshintshayo yokukhula kwesikhumba kufanele inakekelwe yisikhungo sakho sezempilo.

Yini ebangela i-Merkel cell carcinoma?

I-Merkel cell carcinoma ivela lapho i-DNA e-Merkel cells yonakele, ibangele ukukhula okungaphezu kokulawulwa. Imbangela eqondile ayicaci njalo, kodwa abacwaningi baye baqaphela izinto eziningana ezingase zifake isandla kule mponjele.

Into ebaluleke kakhulu ukukhanya kwe-ultraviolet (UV) okuvela ekukhanyeni kwelanga noma emakamelweni okuhlungela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, le radiation ingalimaza izinto eziphilayo ezicellulweni zakho zesikhumba. Ngaphezu kwalokho, cishe izigameko eziyi-8 kweziyi-10 zihlanganiswe ne-virus ebizwa nge-Merkel cell polyomavirus, abantu abaningi abayithwala ngaphandle kokulimaza kodwa ngezinye izikhathi ingase iqalise ukukhula komdlavuza.

Nazi izinto eziyinhloko ezingandisa ingozi yokuthuthukisa lo mdlavuza:

• Ukukhanya kwelanga okuningi, ikakhulukazi ngaphandle kokukhuselwa kwelanga okwanele
• Ukutheleleka yi-Merkel cell polyomavirus
• I-immune system ebuthakathaka evela emithi, ekuthuthukisweni kwamalungu, noma ezimweni ezinjenge-HIV
• Ukuba ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-50, lapho i-immune system yakho ihlala ingaqinile
• Ukuba nesikhumba esimhlophe esiphuza kalula futhi esingathuthuki kahle
• Umlando wama-skin cancers amanye njenge-melanoma noma i-basal cell carcinoma

Ezimweni ezimbalwa, umdlavuza ungathuthuka ngaphandle kokukhanya okucacile kulezi zinto eziyingozi. Lokhu kungase kwenzeke ngenxa yezinto eziphathelene ne-genetic ezingakazwaqondwa ngokugcwele, noma ekuvezweni kwemvelo abacwaningi basacwaninga ngayo.

Nini okufanele ubona udokotela nge-Merkel cell carcinoma?

Kufanele ubona udokotela wakho ngokushesha uma uqaphela noma iyiphi isibopho esisha, esikhula ngokushesha esikhumbeni sakho, ikakhulukazi uma ivele ezindaweni ezikhombisa ilanga njengobuso bakho, intamo, izingalo, noma imilenze. Igama eliyinhloko lapha "liyi-"esikhula ngokushesha" njengoba i-Merkel cell carcinoma ivame ukukhula ngokushesha kunamanye ushintsho lwesikhumba.

Ungalindi uma uqaphela isibopho esiqinile, esingenabuhlungu esivele emavikini noma ezinyangeni ezimbalwa edlule futhi kubonakala sengathi sikhulayo. Ngisho noma kungabuhlungu, ukukhula okusheshayo kuyisibonakaliso esibalulekile sokuqapha okungafanele kunciphiseke.

Kufanele futhi uhlele i-appointment uma unama-lymph nodes avuvukile eduze nesibopho esisha sesikhumba, noma uma unawo ubuhlungu obungapheli kahle. Lezi zimpawu, nakuba zingaba nezizathu eziningi, kufanele ziqondwe ukuze kuvinjwe izimo ezingathi sína.

Kubantu abane-immune system ebuthakathaka noma umlando wokukhanya kwelanga okukhulu, kubalulekile kakhulu ukuba nokuhlolwa kwesikhumba okuvamile. Udokotela wakho angakusiza ukuba uqalise umkhuba ofanele izinga lakho lokulimala.

Zithini izinto eziyingozi ze-Merkel cell carcinoma?

Izinto eziningana zingandisa amathuba akho okukhula kwe-Merkel cell carcinoma, nakuba ukuba nalezi zinto eziyingozi akusho ukuthi uzoba nomdlavuza ngokuqinisekile. Ukuziqonda kungakusiza ukuba uthathe izinyathelo zokuzivimbela futhi wazi ukuthi nini kufanele uqaphe kakhulu ngezinguquko zesikhumba.

Ubudala buyinye yezinto eziyingozi kakhulu, ngezigameko eziningi ezenzeka kubantu abangaphezu kweminyaka engama-50. Njengoba sikhulayo, ama-immune systems ethu aba anomphumela omncane ekulweni nokukhula kwezicellulu ezingavamile, futhi siye saba nokukhanya kwelanga okuningi ekuphileni kwethu.

Nazi izinto eziyinhloko eziyingozi okufanele uzazi:

• Ubudala obungaphezu kweminyaka engama-50, ingozi ikhuphuka kakhulu ngemuva kweminyaka engama-65
• Isikumba esimhlophe, izinwele eziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, neemehlo eziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka eziphuza kalula elangeni
• Ukukhanya kwelanga okuningi eminyakeni eminingi, ikakhulukazi ngaphandle kokukhuselwa kwelanga
• Ukucindezelwa kwe-immune system okuvela emithi yokuhlinzwa kwamalungu
• Ukutheleleka yi-HIV noma ezinye izimo ezibuthakathaka i-immune system
• Umlando wama-skin cancers amanye njenge-melanoma noma i-basal cell carcinoma
• Ubulili besilisa, njengoba amadoda ehluleka lo mdlavuza kabili kunabesifazane

Abanye abantu baba nezinto eziyingozi ezengeziwe ezingavamile kodwa zisabalulekile. Lezi zifaka ukwamukela i-radiation therapy yama-cancers amanye, ukuthatha imithi ethile ecindezela i-immune system yama-autoimmune diseases, noma ukuba ne-genetic conditions eziqeda ukulungiswa kwe-DNA.

Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi izinto eziningi eziyingozi zingaphathwa ngokukhuselwa kwelanga, ukuhlolwa kwesikhumba okuvamile, nokusebenza neqembu lakho lezempilo ukuqapha impilo yakho uma unama-immune system concerns.

Zithini izinhlanganisela ezingase zenzeke ze-Merkel cell carcinoma?

Ukukhathazeka okuyinhloko nge-Merkel cell carcinoma ukuthi ingasakazeka kwamanye amalungu omzimba wakho ngokushesha kunamanye ama-skin cancers amaningi. Uma itholakala ngokushesha futhi iwelashwe ngokushesha, nokho, umbono ngokuvamile uba ngcono kakhulu.

Umdlavuza ngokuvamile usakazeka kuqala kuma-lymph nodes aseduze, okuyingxenye yesistimu yokulwa nokutheleleka yomzimba wakho. Kusuka lapho, ingase ihambele kwamanye amalungu njengaphethini, amaphaphu, amathambo, noma ubuchopho, nakuba lokhu kungavamile lapho umdlavuza utholakala futhi uwelashwa ngokushesha.

Nazi izinhlanganisela ezingase zenzeke okufanele uzazi:

• Ukusazeka kuma-lymph nodes aseduze, kubangela ukukhula ezintamo zakho, e-armpit, noma e-groin
• Ukubuyela endaweni lapho umdlavuza uqala khona ususiwe
• Ukusazeka okude kwamalungu njengaphethini, amaphaphu, noma amathambo
• Ukukhula kwama-tumors engeziwe kwezinye izindawo zesikhumba sakho
• Izinhlanganisela ezivela ekwelashweni, njengokunqunywa noma izinguquko ekuzweleni kwesikhumba

Ezimweni ezimbalwa, abantu bangase babe nezinkinga ezinzima uma umdlavuza usakazeka kakhulu. Lezi zingafaka ubunzima bokuqeda umoya uma ufika emaphaphwini, ubuhlungu uma uthinta amathambo, noma ezinye izimpawu kuye ngokuthi yimaliphi amalungu ahilelekile.

Kubalulekile ukukhumbula ukuthi lezi zinhlanganisela azivamile uma umdlavuza utholakala ngokushesha. Ukulandelela njalo ngemuva kokwelashwa kubalulekile ekutholeni noma yikuphi ukubuyela ngokushesha nokugcina umphumela omuhle kakhulu.

I-Merkel cell carcinoma ingavikeleka kanjani?

Nakuba ungakwazi ukuvimbela zonke izigameko ze-Merkel cell carcinoma, unganciphisa kakhulu ingozi yakho ngokukhuselwa kwesikhumba sakho ekukhanyeni kwe-UV. Izindlela ezifanayo zokuphepha kwelanga ezisiza ekuvimbeleni amanye ama-skin cancers ziphumelela lapha futhi.

Isinyathelo esibaluleke kakhulu ukukhuselwa kwelanga okuqhubekayo. Lokhu kusho ukusebenzisa i-sunscreen ebanzi enezinto ezingaphezu kwe-SPF 30 nsuku zonke, ngisho nasezinsukwini ezinamvula, nokubuyekeza yonke imizuzu engama-60 uma ungaphandle.

Nazi izindlela eziyinhloko zokuvimbela ezingakusiza ukukhuselwa:

• Faka i-sunscreen ebanzi enezinto ezingaphezu kwe-SPF 30 noma ngaphezulu nsuku zonke
• Funani isithunzi ngesikhathi sehora lelanga elikhulu, ngokuvamile kusukela ngo-10 ekuseni kuya ku-4 ntambama
• Gqoka izingubo zokukhuselwa, kufaka phakathi izingubo ezinde neziqalo ezinobuso obukhulu
• Sebenzisa izibuko ze-sunglasses ezivinela kokubili i-UVA ne-UVB rays
• Gwema ama-tanning beds nokuvezwa kwe-UV okuqondisiwe ngokuphelele
• Yenza ukuhlolwa kwesikhumba okuvamile ukuze uthole izinguquko ngokushesha
• Hlela ukuhlolwa kwesikhumba ochwepheshe nodokotela wakho we-dermatologist

Uma una-immune system ebuthakathaka, ukusebenzisana eduze neqembu lakho lezempilo kubaluleke kakhulu. Bangakusiza ukulinganisa izidingo zakho zezokwelapha ngenkathi beqeda ingozi yomdlavuza, futhi bangase bancoma ukuhlolwa kwesikhumba okuvamile.

Khumbula ukuthi ukuvimbela kufaka nokuba nomdlandla ngezinguquko ozibona. Ukuzazi isikhumba sakho nokukuhlola njalo kungakusiza ukuthi ubone izinkinga ezingase zenzeke ngaphambi kokuba zibe nzima.

I-Merkel cell carcinoma ihlonishwa kanjani?

Ukuhlola i-Merkel cell carcinoma ngokuvamile kuqala ngodokotela wakho ohlola isibopho esingathandeki noma indawo esikhumbeni sakho. Bazobheka ubukhulu bayo, umbala, ingqikithi, nokuthi ikhulile kangakanani, futhi bangase bahlole ama-lymph nodes akho ukuze babone ukuthi avuvukile yini.

Ukuhlolwa okuqinisekile kudinga i-biopsy, lapho udokotela wakho esusa ingxenye encane yethishu engathandeki ukuze ayihlole ngaphansi kwesikrini. Lokhu ngokuvamile kwenziwa njengesiqondiso sokuphuma ngaphandle kwe-anesthesia yendawo, ngakho ngeke uzizwe ubuhlungu ngesikhathi senqubo.

Nanku okumelwe ukulindele ngesikhathi senqubo yokuhlola:

1. Ukuhlolwa komzimba wesikhumba sakho nama-lymph nodes
2. Ingxoxo yomlando wezokwelapha ngezimpawu zakho nezinto eziyingozi
3. I-biopsy yendawo engathandeki, ngokuvamile enziwa ehhovisi
4. Ukuhlaziywa kwelebhu yesampula yethishu yi-pathologist
5. Izivivinyo ezengeziwe zokufana uma umdlavuza uqinisekiswe

Uma i-biopsy iqinisekisa i-Merkel cell carcinoma, udokotela wakho cishe uzoyala izivivinyo ezengeziwe ukuze aqinisekise ukuthi umdlavuza usakazeke yini. Lezi zingafaka i-CT scans, i-PET scans, noma i-sentinel lymph node biopsy ukuze ahlole ukuthi izicellulu zomdlavuza zifinyelele kuma-lymph nodes akho yini.

Ezimweni ezithile, udokotela wakho angase futhi ahlole i-Merkel cell polyomavirus ukuze ahole izinqumo zokwelashwa. Lolu lwazi lungaba usizo ekuhleleni indlela ephumelela kakhulu yesimo sakho esithile.

Ukuphathwa kwe-Merkel cell carcinoma kuyini?

Ukuphathwa kwe-Merkel cell carcinoma ngokuvamile kuhilela ukuhlinzwa ukuze kususwe i-tumor, ngokuvamile kulandelelwa yi-radiation therapy ukuze kunciphise amathuba omdlavuza ukubuya. Uhlelo lwakho lokwelashwa luzoxhomeka ebukhulu nendawo ye-tumor, ukuthi usakazeke yini, nempilo yakho jikelele.

Ukuhlinzwa ngokuvamile kuyisinyathelo sokuqala, lapho udokotela wakho esusa khona i-tumor kanye nezinye izicellulu ezisempilweni ezizungezile ukuze aqinisekise ukuthi zonke izicellulu zomdlavuza zisusiwe. Le nqubo ibizwa ngokuthi yi-wide local excision futhi ngokuvamile yenziwa njengesiqondiso sokuphuma ngaphandle.

Iqembu lakho lokwelashwa lingase likucele izindlela eziningana, kuye ngesimo sakho esithile:

• I-wide local excision ukususa i-tumor nethishu ezizungezile
• I-Sentinel lymph node biopsy ukuze ihlole ukuthi umdlavuza usakazeke kuma-lymph nodes aseduze yini
• I-Radiation therapy endaweni ye-tumor futhi ngezinye izikhathi kuma-lymph nodes aseduze
• Imithi ye-immunotherapy yezigameko eziphambili
• I-Chemotherapy ezimweni ezithile, nakuba lokhu kungavamile ukusetshenziswa

Kubantu abomdlavuza wabo usakazeke kuma-lymph nodes noma kwamanye amalungu omzimba, ukwelashwa kungafaka imithi ye-immunotherapy efana ne-pembrolizumab noma i-avelumab. Le miithi iyasiza i-immune system yakho ukuba ibone futhi ilwe izicellulu zomdlavuza ngokuphumelela.

Ezimweni ezimbalwa lapho umdlavuza uthuthukile kakhulu, udokotela wakho angase akukhuthaze i-chemotherapy. Nokho, lokhu ngokuvamile kugcinelwe izimo lapho ezinye izindlela zingazange ziphumelele, njengoba i-immunotherapy ibonise imiphumela emihle ngezinhlanganisela ezincane kubantu abaningi.

Indlela yokuphatha izimpawu ngesikhathi sokwelashwa kwe-Merkel cell carcinoma?

Ukuphatha imiphumela emibi nezimpawu ngesikhathi sokwelashwa kuyiyingxenye ebalulekile yohlelo lwakho lokunakekelwa jikelele. Abantu abaningi bayithwala kahle ukwelashwa, kodwa ukwazi ukuthi yini okufanele uyilindele nokuthi ungaphatha kanjani izinkinga ezivamile kungakusiza uzizwe ulungile futhi ukhululekile.

Ngemva kokuhlinzwa, kuzodingeka ugcine indawo yokuhlinzwa ihlanzekile futhi yomile ngenkathi iphulukana. Udokotela wakho uzokunikeza imiyalo ekhethekile yokunakekelwa kwesilonda, kufaka phakathi ukuthi nini ungageza futhi yimiphi imisebenzi okufanele uyigweme ngesikhathi sokuphulukana.

Nazi ezinye izindlela ezisebenzayo zokuphatha izimpawu ezivamile ezihlobene nokwelashwa:

• Landela imiyalo yokunakekelwa kwesilonda ngokucophelela ukuze uvikele ukutheleleka futhi uthuthukise ukuphulukana
• Sebenzisa ama-moisturizers abuthambile, angenamphunga esikhumbeni esithola i-radiation therapy
• Vikela isikhumba esiphathwayo ekukhanyeni kwelanga ngezingubo ne-sunscreen
• Hlala unomswakama futhi udle ukudla okunomsoco ukuze usekele ukuphulukana komzimba wakho
• Thola ukuphumula okwanele, njengoba umzimba wakho udinga amandla ukuze uphulukane nokwelashwa
• Bika noma yiziphi izimpawu ezingavamile noma imiphumela emibi eqenjini lakho lezempilo ngokushesha

Uma uthola i-radiation therapy, isikhumba sakho endaweni yokwelashwa singase sibe bomvu, siomile, noma sibe nomuzwa, kufana nokushisa kwelanga. Iqembu lakho le-radiation lizokunikeza imiyalo ekhethekile yokunakekelwa futhi lingase likhuthaze ama-lotions akhethekile ukuze ugcine isikhumba sakho sihle.

Kubantu abathuthukisa i-immunotherapy, imiphumela emibi ingase ihluke kodwa ingafaka ukukhathala, ukukhula, noma izinkinga zokugaya. Iqembu lakho le-oncology lizokulawula eduze futhi linganikeza imithi noma izindlela zokuphatha lezi zimpawu ngokuphumelela.

Kufanele ulungiselele kanjani i-appointment yakho yodokotela?

Ukulungiselela i-appointment yakho kungakusiza ukuba wenze kakhulu isikhathi sakho nomhlinzeki wakho wezempilo futhi kuqinisekise ukuthi uthola lonke ulwazi oludingayo. Qala ngokubhala phansi ukuthi nini uqale ukubona ushintsho lwesikhumba nokuthi luye lathuthuka kanjani kusukela ngaleso sikhathi.

Letha uhlu lwemithi yonke oyithathayo njengamanje, kufaka phakathi imithi yokwelapha, imithi yokuthengwa ngaphandle komthetho, nama-supplements. Buye uqoqe ulwazi ngomlando wakho wezokwelapha, ikakhulukazi noma yimaphi ama-skin cancers angaphambili noma izimo eziqeda i-immune system yakho.

Nanku okumelwe ukulungiselele ngaphambi kwe-appointment yakho:

• Isikhathi sesikhathi lapho uqale ukubona khona ushintsho lwesikhumba nokuthi luye lwathambela kanjani
• Uhlu oluphelele lwemithi yama-current nama-supplements
• Umlando wezokwelapha, kufaka phakathi ama-cancers angaphambili noma izimo ze-immune system
• Umlando womndeni we-skin cancer noma amanye ama-cancers
• Uhlu lwemibuzo ofuna ukuyibuza udokotela wakho
• Ulwazi lwe-insurance namafomu okudlulisela uma kudingeka

Cabanga ukuletha umngani othembekile noma ilungu lomndeni e-appointment yakho, ikakhulukazi uma uxoxa ngezinketho zokwelashwa. Bangakusiza ukuba ukhumbule ulwazi olubalulekile futhi banikeze ukwesekwa ngokomzwelo ngesikhathi esingase sizwe sengathi singumxhapho.

Ungangabazi ukubuza udokotela wakho ukuba achaze noma yini ongeyiqondi. Kubalulekile ukuthi uzizwe ukhululekile ngohlelo lwakho lokwelashwa futhi wazi ukuthi yini okufanele uyilindele kuzo zonke izinyathelo zenqubo.

Iyini into ebalulekile nge-Merkel cell carcinoma?

Into ebaluleke kakhulu okufanele uyikhumbule nge-Merkel cell carcinoma ukuthi ukutholakala kwangaphambi kwesikhathi kwenza umehluko omkhulu emiphumeleni yokwelashwa. Nakuba lo mdlavuza ungavamile futhi omkhulu, ukuhlolwa nokwelashwa ngokushesha kungase kube nemiphumela emihle kakhulu kubantu abaningi.

Qaphela noma yiziphi izibopho ezintsha, ezikhula ngokushesha esikhumbeni sakho, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni ezikhombisa ilanga. Uma uqaphela into engathandeki, ungalindi ukuba ihlolwe – isinyathelo sokushesha yilona elihle kakhulu lokuzivikela kule mdlavuza.

Ukuvimbela ngokukhuselwa kwelanga okuqhubekayo kuhlala kuyinsiza enamandla kakhulu onayo. Ukusetshenziswa kwansuku zonke kwe-sunscreen, izingubo zokukhuselwa, nokugwema ama-tanning beds kunganciphisa kakhulu ingozi yakho yokuthuthukisa lo mdlavuza namanye ama-skin cancers.

Khumbula ukuthi ukuba nezinto eziyingozi akusho ukuthi uzoba nomdlavuza ngokuqinisekile, futhi ngisho noma uthola lo mdlavuza, ukwelashwa okuphumelelayo kukhona. Sebenza eduze neqembu lakho lezempilo, landela izikhuthazo zabo, futhi ungangabazi ukubuza imibuzo nganoma yini ekukhathazayo.

Imibuzo evamile ebuzwa nge-Merkel cell carcinoma

Q1: I-Merkel cell carcinoma isakazeka ngokushesha kangakanani?

I-Merkel cell carcinoma ingasakazeka ngokushesha kunamanye ama-skin cancers, kodwa isikhathi sihlukahluka kumuntu nomuntu. Amanye ama-tumors angasakazeka kuma-lymph nodes aseduze phakathi nezinyanga, kanti amanye ahlala endaweni isikhathi eside. Yingakho ukuhlolwa nokwelashwa ngokushesha kubalulekile – ukuyithola ngokushesha kukunika ithuba elihle kakhulu lokwelashwa okuphumelelayo.

Q2: I-Merkel cell carcinoma ingaphiliswa yini?

Yebo, i-Merkel cell carcinoma ngokuvamile ingaphiliswa, ikakhulukazi uma itholakala ngokushesha ngaphambi kokuba isakazeke kuma-lymph nodes noma kwamanye amalungu omzimba. Izinga lokuphila eminyakeni emihlanu lingaphezu kwe-75% uma umdlavuza utholakala futhi uwelashwa ezingeni lawo lokuqala. Ngisho noma umdlavuza usakazeke, ukwelashwa okusha njenge-immunotherapy kuye kwathuthukisa kakhulu imiphumela kubantu abaningi.

Q3: I-Merkel cell carcinoma iyefa yini?

I-Merkel cell carcinoma ngokuvamile ayiyona ifa, okusho ukuthi ngokuvamile ayihambeli emindenini njengamanye ama-cancers amaningi. Izigameko eziningi zihambisana nokukhanya kwelanga, ukutheleleka yi-virus, noma ukucindezelwa kwe-immune system kunokuba izinto eziphathelene ne-genetic eziwusizo. Noma kunjalo, abanye abantu bangaba nezinto eziphathelene ne-genetic ezibenza babe sengozini kakhulu yama-skin cancers ngokujwayelekile.

Q4: Isibopho se-Merkel cell carcinoma sizizwa kanjani?

Isibopho se-Merkel cell carcinoma ngokuvamile sizizwa siqinile futhi singenabuhlungu uma sithintwa. Ngokuvamile sibukhanyayo futhi singaba nobukhulu obuthambile. Isibopho ngokuvamile sinobuso obukhanyayo futhi singaba bomvu, opurple, noma umbala wesikhumba. Okwenza kube okukhathazayo ukuthi sikhulayo ngokushesha – ungase uqaphele ukuthi sikhulayo emavikini noma ezinyangeni.

Q5: I-Merkel cell carcinoma ihlukile kanjani kwamanye ama-skin cancers?

I-Merkel cell carcinoma ihlukile kwamanye ama-skin cancers ngezindlela eziningana: ivame ukukhula futhi isakazeke ngokushesha, kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi ihlobene ne-virus (i-Merkel cell polyomavirus), futhi inenkambo enkulu yokusakazeka kuma-lymph nodes. Ngokungafani ne-melanoma, ngokuvamile ayiveluki e-moles ezikhona, futhi ngokungafani ne-basal cell carcinoma, kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi isakazeke kwamanye amalungu omzimba uma ingaphathwa ngokushesha.