(Pamela Avila/ USA Today) — Jimmy Buffett died Friday following a four-year battle with Merkel cell skin cancer.
The musician kept performing while undergoing treatment for skin cancer, and Buffett’s last show was a surprise 45-minute appearance at a July 2 Mac McAnally show in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he brought the crowd to its feet screaming when he walked out. In 2022, his struggles with a then-undisclosed health issue became visible when he was hospitalized and forced to cancel several shows.
According to a statement announcing his death, the 76-year-old “passed away peacefully” at home in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York. He was “surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs.”
So, what exactly is Merkel cell skin cancer? What causes it and who is at most risk? Here’s what to know about the rare skin condition. (…)