Living with MCC
Healthy living tips
Living with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) can be challenging, but there are steps you can take to help support your health and feel your best. Taking care of your body can make daily living easier and may improve your quality of life and can potentially lower the chances your cancer will come back.
This section gives practical tips for healthy living and ways to find support as you manage life with MCC. Experts suggest that staying active, eating a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fiber, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and protecting your health by limiting alcohol, avoiding tobacco, and staying safe from the sun can all help make a difference.
- Here is a general graphic showing many of these aspects: Healthy Living With Cancer: Infographic (PDF) (American Institute for Cancer Research)
These healthy habits are good for everyone, not just those with MCC. The resources below provide evidence-based strategies and practical tools to help make positive lifestyle changes.
Stay active
Even small amounts of movement can make a big difference. Regular exercise may help lower stress, reduce treatment side effects, and boost your energy levels. Both aerobic activity and resistance training (such as weightlifting) have been shown to support patients with cancer in managing their disease and improving overall health. Try to include activities you enjoy, like walking, swimming, gardening, or gentle stretching. Adding exercise into your routine can also meanis even better if it means spending more time with family or friends.
- Physical Activity Infographic (PDF) (American Institute for Cancer Research)
- Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Patients (PDF)
- Cancer and Exercise Resources (American College of Sports Medicine)
- Tips if you’re too tired for physical activity (American Institute for Cancer Research)
Tip: Always talk with your healthcare team about the types of activities that are safe and right for you, before starting a new exercise routine.
Eat a healthy diet
What you eat matters for your health. Although research is still being done about how diet affects cancer outcomes, there is some evidence that a healthy diet can be another tool to help your body’s ability to fight cancer.
Fiber in fruits and vegetables
One of the most important parts of your diet during cancer treatment is fiber. Eating more high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help your immune system.
Learn more: What is fiber and why is it important? (Stanford)
- If you want to learn more about adding fiber-rich foods to your meals, check out Cook for Your Life for easy recipes.
- Many cancer centers, including Fred Hutch, offer free nutrition advice. If you are a Fred Hutch patient, learn more here. If not, ask your cancer center about nutrition help.
Nutritional Supplements
Some patients use supplements, like Host Defense® MyCommunity Capsules, to support their immune system. Although it is unclear if these help patients with MCC, studies of Asian medicinal mushrooms do show they can stimulate immunity in some people, and this could possibly be helpful for patients with MCC.
Please note that we are not recommending or endorsing these products but are passing along information that our patients have used and liked. Always talk to your doctor before starting any supplement, as some can affect your cancer treatment or other medicines you take.
- Supplements and cancer care (American Cancer Society)
Limit alcohol
Drinking alcohol has been linked to many different types of cancer. Although we don’t know how alcohol affects MCC, experts say it’s best not to drink alcohol if you have cancer.
It is also unclear how alcohol can affect cancer treatments, so you should speak with your doctor about alcohol consumption.
- Alcohol and cancer: What to know (American Cancer Society)
Avoid smoking
If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health. There are no studies on smoking and MCC, but we know from other cancers that smoking makes it harder for your body to fight cancer.
- In melanoma, research shows that patients who smoke cigarettes are “40% less likely to survive the disease than those who have never smoked”. It is thought that the chemicals in cigarettes decrease the ability of your immune system to work against the cancer
- Learn more about how smoking affects cancer (melanoma)
Manage stress & get enough sleep
Stress is often overlooked as a lifestyle factor in cancer care, but stress can affect your body and mind. For patients with MCC, managing stress may help you feel better and support your treatment.
Stress and cancer
Stress is not a cause of cancer, but we know that stress can have negative effects on overall health. Research shows that long-term psychological stress can weaken the immune system, cause hormone changes, and impact the way your cells work. Current research is still looking at if and how stress may impact cancer progression.
Managing stress
It is important to take care of your stress like you take care of any other aspects of your health. Finding healthy ways to manage stress can help you feel better in your body, mind, and spirit.
Ways to manage stress include:
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Physical activity (see above)
- Spending time with loved ones
- Talking to a counselor or joining a support group (see below)
- Getting enough sleep
Getting enough sleep
Sleeping is very important for your health. Getting enough sleep helps you manage your stress levels and helps your body’s immune system stay healthy and in good shape to fight cancer. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
Many patients with cancer experience sleep problems that make it hard for them to sleep or affect their quality of sleep. Too often these issues go untreated, even though conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea can be managed.
If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor. There are ways to treat sleep difficulties and help your body stay strong.
- It's important to address sleep problems in cancer (Fred Hutch)
- Learn more about sleep problems (American Cancer Society)
Complementary and alternative therapies
Some people choose to add other therapies to their cancer care, like special diets, supplements, or mind-body practices. While some patients find these helpful, there is not much research to show if they work for MCC. Always talk with your doctor before starting anything new, as some supplements or treatments can affect your regular cancer care.
Tips about complementary and alternative therapies:
- These are meant to support—not replace—your regular cancer treatment
- Some supplements can cause side effects or interact with medicines, so check with your doctor or pharmacist
- High quality information about what natural medicines may be safe and effective can be found at this website: naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com
Getting support
Taking care of your emotional and mental health is just as important as caring for your body during your cancer journey. It’s a key part of living well with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), right alongside healthy eating, exercise, and medical treatment.
Reaching out for support can make you feel stronger, more connected, and better able to cope during your MCC journey. You don’t have to face MCC alone.
à Are you a patient, family member, or caregiver? Join in with the MCC Online Support Group
What is support?
Support means having people and resources you can count on. Family, friends, doctors, nurses, counselors, and other people with MCC can all be part of your support system.
Getting support helps you take care of your feelings (emotional health) and your everyday needs (practical and physical health). Types of support include:
- Emotional support
- Talking to family and friends
- Joining support groups to meet others with cancer or MCC
- Speaking with counselors or therapists
- Practical support
- Getting help with rides to doctor appointments
- Support with meals, chores, and daily tasks
- Medical support
- Talking to doctors and nurses for information and advice
- Learning about treatments and managing side effects
- Online support
- Visiting trusted websites and online groups for people with MCC
- Connecting with others and finding reliable information online
- Tips for Online Support: Choose trusted websites and support groups (like those recommended by your care team), protect your privacy by not sharing personal details online, and look for groups that are moderated by experts or experienced patients
Whether you need someone to talk to, answers to your questions, or a helping hand with everyday tasks, support can make your journey easier and give you hope for the future.
Support group and resources
There are many organizations that help people with cancer. These groups can help you find support groups, counseling, information, and advice. Many hospitals and cancer centers also offer support services for patients and families.
MCC online support group
There is an active online support group just for people with MCC, their families, and caregivers. This is a patient-led discussion forum with several hundred members and significant daily participation.
- All patients with MCC, family members, and caregivers can join this group
- You can share your experiences, ask questions, and get support from others who understand what you’re going through
- MCC support group members are not healthcare professionals and do not offer medical advice; rather they provide support to each other during their or their loved one’s battle against MCC
To submit a request to join the group, fill out this intake form, or email the support group admin at [email protected] with any questions.
What to expect from a Support Group
Support groups are online or in-person safe spaces where people can talk about their experiences, find common ground, and share feelings. Everything shared in the group is private. You can join in as little or as much as you want. Many people find that being part of a support group helps them feel understood and less alone.
How to ask for help
It’s okay to ask for help. Try talking to family, friends, and your healthcare team about what you need—people want to help, but sometimes they need to know what would help you most.
Support for caregivers
If you are caring for someone with MCC, remember that you need support too. There are groups and resources just for caregivers to help you manage stress and care for yourself.
Remember: There are many people and groups who want to help you through your journey with MCC. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength.