Immunosuppressants and skin cancer

[okarol]

Immunosuppressants and skin cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer.  It appears as pink-to-red scaly growths usually on sun-exposed surfaces such as the scalp, face, ears, hands, and arms.

It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.  Approximately one million new skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States. Eighty percent are basal cell carcinoma, 16% are squamous cell carcinoma and 4% are melanoma.  (Statistics provided by the American Academy of Dermatology.)

Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include fair skin, freckles, blue eyes and blonde hair. Environmental factors such as excessive ultraviolet light exposure from the sun or tanning booths also present a high risk.

People on immunosuppressant medications such as organ transplant patients are particularly susceptible.  Other important factors increasing susceptibility to squamous cell include occupational x-ray exposure, environmental exposure to coal or chemicals such as arsenic and scarring from trauma, diseases or burns.  Finally, family history plays an important role as some individuals are more susceptible to skin cancer.

The cure rate for squamous cell carcinoma is approximately 95% when treated properly.  The tumor should be treated by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.  The extent and type of treatment depends on the characteristics, size and location of the tumor.

Sun avoidance, protection and sunscreen are the basics of good skin care.

During the summer, limiting the length of time spent outdoors between 11am and 4pm, wearing wide-brimmed hats and clothing to shade the skin and applying an SPF 15 or higher,  broad-spectrum sunscreen will go a long way in helping to prevent skin cancer.

Here are some protective clothing resources:
http://www.spfstore.com/
http://www.shadyladyproducts.com/
http://www.sunprotection.com/

[monrein]

This is really important information and is something that my neph has always warned me about since I am very fair, blue-eyed (we looked almost albino as kids) and since my Mum died young of melanoma.  I always wear a hat for gardening and when I used to do wilderness canoeing I'd always wear long sleeves and even paddling gloves as well for protection.  Heavy duty sunscreen every day even in winter and finally, I see a dermatologist usually every one to two years and she burns suspicious things off me.  Just had three spots done and a bunch of warts on my feet at the same time.  Yep, body maintenance has become a full and part time job for this body.

[okarol]

Jenna is required to have annual skin cancer checks by a dermatologist as part of her transplant program. She is also blonde, blue-eyed and very fair. They said the part in a person's hair is very vulnerable as it's exposed all the time.

[monrein]

Good point about the scalp Karol.  I go regularly to have my hair done and my stylist checks my scalp carefully as she does my highlights.  When I was first transplanted I saw the dermatologist annually but as time went on I went every couple of years or more often if I found something suspicious.

[Chris]

My transplant center started having me see a dermatologist who specializes in seeing transplant patients after 5 years post transplant. The doctor prescribes Tretinoin Cream, USP 0.05% to help prevent skin cancer that is applied everyday at night. But it smells bad to me.