10 Key Factors That Elevate Your Risk of Merkel Cell Carcinoma
3. Exposure To Ultraviolet Light
The sun and several other sources emit a form of electromagnetic radiation called ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is emitted in different wavelengths and frequencies depending on its source. There are two main types of ultraviolet rays that can cause the kind of cellular damage that results in skin cancers, including Merkel cell carcinoma. UVA rays are potent high-energy rays with a significant aging effect on the skin and have the ability to cause skin cancers. UVB rays are the most damaging form of high-energy ultraviolet rays that cause direct damage to the human and animal cellular DNA. Ultraviolet rays also have an adverse effect on the process of cellular repair. This adverse effect gives the mutated cells the opportunity to learn how to evade cellular apoptosis or death. Because ultraviolet radiation is so damaging to the cells and their DNA, it is known to be the most significant risk factor that increases an individual's chance of developing Merkel cell carcinoma. The best way to prevent Merkel cell carcinoma is to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet light is greater in areas located at higher altitudes, in conditions of minimal cloud cover, in areas closer to the equator, during certain seasons, and at specific times during the day.
4. Weakened Immune System
A weakened immune system can cause an individual to be more susceptible to developing Merkel cell carcinoma because of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). About eighty percent of Merkel cell carcinoma patients present with MCV in their cancer cells. It is common for an individual to contract the Merkel cell polyomavirus at some point in their lifetime, but it rarely causes any noticeable symptoms or complications. A healthy individual's immune system is able to keep MCV at bay when and if the virus is encountered. However, a patient with a compromised immune system due to medication, disease, or genetics is unable to stop the virus from growing beyond control. When a patient's weakened immune system allows the Merkel cell polyomavirus to flourish, the virus invades cells and causes them to produce a particular protein. This specific protein has the ability to deactivate numerous tumor suppressor genes that are responsible for the inhibition of cancerous cell growth. This mechanism that occurs between MCV and a compromised immune system can increase an individual's risk for developing Merkel cell carcinoma.
