Jimmy Buffett had Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer
. This cancer arises from neuroendocrine cells in the epidermis and is much less common than basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma, but it tends to grow rapidly and has a high risk of spreading and recurrence
. Buffett battled this cancer for about four years before his death in 2023 at age 76
