Organ Transplant 和 Skin Cancer Risk
What 病人 Need to Know
Organ transplant patients are at a higher risk — up to a 100-fold higher — for developing skin cancer compared to the general population. Transplant patients tend to develop a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma 和 卡波西肉瘤. Many patients also develop a skin cancer called 基底细胞 癌和 黑素瘤.
This higher risk is caused by immunosuppressive medications, which are essential to transplant patients to prevent graft rejection 和 optimize graft survival. Because these medications suppress the immune system that fights off infection 和 prevents the development of cancer, transplant recipients are at elevated risk for infection 和 certain cancers.
The exact mechanism that leads immunosuppressive medications to promote tumor growth is being studied. Some research suggests that the duration, intensity 和 type of immunosuppressant may be related to the development of skin cancer.
In addition, the risk for skin cancer may vary with the type of transplant. Cardiac 和 lung transplant patients seem to develop skin cancer more frequently than liver or kidney transplant patients.
While not all transplant recipients develop skin cancer, all transplant patients are encouraged to examine their skin for worrisome lesions once a month, practice adequate sun protection measures, including sunscreen 和 protective clothing, 和 follow-up with their dermatologist for regular skin checks.
年度检查
Because all organ transplant patients are at elevated risk for skin cancer, all transplant patients are advised to have head-to-toe skin exams by a dermatologist at least once a year.
病人 may need to see a dermatologist more frequently, if they have multiple risk factors for developing skin cancer, including a prior history of skin cancer or a history of pre-cancerous skin lesions like actinic keratosis.
If you're a c和idate for an organ transplant 和 have a history of skin cancer, let your transplant doctor know.
加州大学旧金山分校健康 medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only 和 is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.