Jimmy Buffett Had Cancer - Dr Vernon Sondak

Jimmy Buffett's family revealed that the singer, who died Friday, had been dealing with Merkel cell skin cancer for four years, as well as lymphoma. Merkel cell is a rare skin cancer. We speak with Dr. Vernon Sondak, the head of the department at Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center that deals with skin cancers, who has written a book on this particular cancer.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Gordon Bird here with Beyond the Newsas I'm speaking to you, of course,
So we heard the news over theweekend about the death of Jimmy Buffett.
The singer was seventy six years old, and his family a day after
his passing, revealed that he hadbeen dealing with cancer, specifically skin cancer,
a type of cancer called Merkel skincell cancer, and that had morphed

(00:23):
into lymphoma. And we're going totalk with an expert about skin cancer and
about what we should be aware ofand what factors might have contributed to this
particular cancer. He is doctor VernonSandak. He is the chair of the
Department of Cutaneous Oncology, which handlesskin cancer cases for Moffett Cancer Center based

(00:46):
in Tampa. He is a cancersurgeon. Doctor Sandac, thank you very
much and welcome to Beyond the News. Thank you, thank you for having
me well, doctor Sandak. It'sno secret that Jimmy Buffett loved to get
outdoors. He enjoyed sailing, andno doubt he spent a lot of time
on the water under the hot Floridasun and hot sun of other places.

(01:08):
Is it safe to assume that Merkel'sskin cell cancer, like others is connected
to sun exposure. So Merkel feltcancer is a rare form of skin cancer
that is typically found in older individualswho either have all had a lot of

(01:30):
sun exposure as you're talking about withJimmy Buffett, or who have a suppressed
immune system. Even people with nosun exposure can get this form of cancers
if they have a suppressed immune system. It's one of the interesting cancers.
It seems to have two different originpathways multor violet light or from a very

(01:57):
specific virus that can cause this canceris the common virus that is present in
everybody that is usually harmless unless theimmune system is suppressed. So with the
other group that of people who mightbe encountering this are people who are immune
suppressed, who might be dealing withimmuno deficiency issues, maybe people with HIV

(02:22):
and other immune related conditions. Isthat correct, that's correct, HIV,
an organ transplant or a cancer likelymphoma or lymentmia that suppresses the immune system,
so they can they can interact.You can have more than one issue

(02:43):
going on and be at risk ofthis particular form of skin cancer. Now,
mister Buffett's family says he had beenbattling the cancer for four years and
that it had changed into lymphoma overthat time. Is that typical of how
these sorts of cancers progress. SoI don't know this specific reference to the

(03:09):
lymphoma that is not a direct consequenceof mercle self cancer. I've not personally
seen anything that specifically talks about lymphomain engine and buffet. But again I'm
not his position. As I said, we actually commonly see merkle self cancer

(03:30):
in some lymphoma patients who are begettingsuppressed, so it may be that they
were interrelated, but not one turninginto the other. What we do see
with merkel silk cancer is that ittypically starts on the skin and can spread
to the lymphs. Notes Sometimes thatcan cause people to think it's lymph homa

(03:54):
because it's in the lymph nodes,but it's miracle self cancer spread to the
lymph no, and then it canspread beyond the lims nose and require a
more aggressive treatment if it does getto that point. So in other cases
and potential cases of this particular typeof skin cancer, is this an area

(04:17):
where monitoring and looking for signs ofskin cancer can make a big difference.
And what should people be looking outfor. So, of course, with
all forms of skin cancer, thetop priority is first preventing it and then
if we can't prevent it, diagnosingit early. Melanoma has these ABC needs

(04:40):
we often talk about that can giveus a clue that a goal is changing
and is turning bad. Mertle cellcancer, unfortunately, is one of the
most sneaking forms of skin cancer.It rarely shows itself to be an obvious
answer. It typically shows up asa small but rapidly enlarging reddish or purplish

(05:06):
lump just on and underneath the skin, looks for all the world like a
cyst or a boil, and it'soften lands and somebody's as junior that didn't
didn't go away? What's going on? So an older person that a rapidly
enlarging British MP that's not clearly acist or infection that needs to get checked

(05:30):
out right away. And with anyform of skin cancer, including mercle cell
melanoma, you name it, earlierdetection is the key to better outcomes and
less need for aggressive treatment. DoctorFernan Sondak, the chair of the Department
of Cutaneous Oncology that handles skin cancercases for Moffat Cancer Center in Tampa.

(05:51):
He's a cancer surgeon. He's infact, written a book on merkele cell
skin cancer. Doctor Sandak, thankyou very much for joining us beyond the
news. M hmm. Thank you