5 things to know about Merkel cell carcinoma, the rare cancer that was fatal for Jimmy Buffett

When the world woke to the news that Root Trail resident Jimmy Buffett, the laid-back troubadour of the coconut-scented BabyBoomer lifestyle, had died Sept. 1 at age 76, the first question most had was "What happened?"

Skin cancer happened. A seldom-seen type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma.

"Some experienced dermatologists can suspect Merkel cell carcinoma by sight," Dr. Richard A. Krathen, a board-certified dermatologist at Florida Dermatology Specialists, told the Shiny Sheet on Tuesday, but the cancer is rare and diagnosing it can be challenging.

Here are five things to know about Merkel cell carcinoma, according to Krathen:

1. It is rare, with only a few thousand cases reported per year. It is also very aggressive, metastasizing quickly if not caught early.

2. Caucasians 65 and older are more likely to develop Merkel cell than non-Caucasians; men slightly more than women.

3. As with all skin cancers, sun exposure is a risk factor, as is a compromised immune system and previous history of skin cancer.

4. Diagnosis can be tricky. "On clinical inspection, it looks a lot like squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma. A biopsy can confirm the diagnosis," Krathen said.

5. Treatment is by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or some combination thereof, depending on the stage of the disease.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: 5 things to know about rare cancer that was fatal for Jimmy Buffett