Organ Transplant Increases Risk of Skin Cancer
Sun protection, close follow-up, and early intervention vital
In study after study, the finding is the same. Organ-transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing skin cancer, and with each passing year, this risk grows. Some dermatologists report that these patients tend to develop their first skin cancer 2 to 4 years after the transplant operation.
Why Organ Transplant Increases Risk
The medication taken to prevent organ rejection plays a key role, but it is not the only reason for this increased risk. Unprotected sun exposure, which allows ultraviolet (UV) rays to harm the skin, also affects a person’s risk. The more lifetime sun exposure, the greater the risk. Research shows that 20 years after receiving an organ, recipients who live in a temperate climate have a 40% overall increased risk of developing skin cancer. This risk exceeds 80% in sun-intense areas such as Australia.
Having naturally pale to olive skin and contracting an infection caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) also seem to increase the risk of an organ-transplant recipient developing skin cancer.
When skin cancer develops in an organ-transplant recipient, multiple skin cancers may appear and the cancer can be more aggressive. An aggressive cancer has greater potential to recur (return after treatment) and to metastasize (spread). Being aware of this and learning what can reduce the risk are likely to improve one’s quality of life.
What Dermatologists Recommend
Since the risk of getting skin cancer jumps significantly after an organ-transplant operation, dermatologists recommend the following:
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Get a full-body examination before the transplant operation. The purpose of this exam is to detect existing skin cancer and actinic keratoses (AKs), lesions that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer). Skin cancers and AKs are best treated before the transplant operation. Once the person starts taking anti-rejection medication, the body’s immune system cannot work as effectively. This means that existing skin cancer can grow rapidly, making treatment more difficult. With a weakened immune system, skin cancer also may become more aggressive.
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Wear sun-protective clothing. Organ-transplant patients must take anti-rejection medication for life. This medication suppresses the body’s immune system, so exposure to UV rays significantly increases the risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer (any skin cancer excluding melanoma).
Before going outdoors, dermatologists recommend that people who are organ-transplant recipients put on:
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A wide-brimmed hat. The brim should encircle the entire hat and be wide enough to shade the face, back of the head, and neck.
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Long pants
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Long sleeves
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Sunglasses
It is important to wear clothing that effectively blocks harmful UV rays. Several factors affect clothing’s effectiveness, including the weave, color, and fabric. To illustrate, a white cotton T-shirt provides only moderate protection, with an average SPF of 7. At the other end of the spectrum, a long-sleeve dark denim shirt offers excellent sun protection — an estimated SPF of 1,700. In general, the tighter the weave, the more sun protection.
Color also plays a key role. Darker colors offer more protection than lighter colors. While a white cotton T-shirt has an SPF of 7, a green cotton T-shirt provides an SPF of 10. A thicker fabric such as velvet in black, blue, or dark green has an approximate SPF of 50. -