Solid organ transplant patients may be at higher risk for skin cancer and require coordinated care (Several hundred times higher risk)

Medical Xpress / Mayo Clinic / Mayo Clinic Proceedings ^ | Dec. 6, 2022 | Jay Furst / Hannah Berman et al

[ConservativeMind]

More than half of all patients who receive solid organ transplants will have an incidence of skin cancer at some point—most often a nonmelanoma cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. This increased risk can be several hundred times higher than in the general population.

The increased risk is related to long-term immunosuppressive therapy required for transplanted organ survival, which affects the immune system's ability to monitor cells for abnormalities, according to Leila Tolaymat, M.D.

"While dermatologists are involved in treating carcinomas and other neoplasms in high-risk patients, an understanding of skin cancer risk, is important across the patient care team," she says.

Nonmelanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinomas, are the most common types of skin cancer that organ transplant recipients tend to develop. Melanoma, although less common than nonmelanoma skin cancer, is more frequent among organ transplant recipients compared to the general population.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm seen in these transplant recipients, who are at risk for worse outcomes, including a skin cancer-specific mortality rate that is nine times higher than the general population. Basal cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer among transplant patients.

Organ transplant recipients have an increased risk of melanoma estimated at up to five times the risk for the general population. Findings also suggest that melanoma has a more aggressive disease course among transplant recipients.

Reduction in immunosuppressive medications can be effective for skin cancer prevention and treatment, though the risks and potential benefits must be discussed with the patient's full multidisciplinary team and requires close monitoring. Therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors are possible options when more traditional approaches are not feasible, though checkpoint inhibitor therapy comes with the risk of allograft rejection.

[moovova]

Incredible...I knew none of that. That’s why I like coming to FR...i learn something new every day. Thanks.

[tinamina]

Yes I think she was on prednisone even before the transplant. I’m not sure of the other drugs because it seems like she takes so many. It has been a struggle to stay alive but she’s happy to have the struggle. I would say to research all the drugs that they’re telling you to take and question the doctors about them and get second opinions and if you’re taking one for too long ask if you can switch it up.

[telescope115]

Great advice! God Bless, and keep up the Good Fight! 🙂👍👍