To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Organ Transplant Patients Largely Unaware of Increased Skin Cancer Risk: Presented at AAD URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/21C70E.htm Doctor's Guide February 4, 2008
By Bruce Sylvester SAN ANTONIO, TX -- February 4, 2008 -- A majority of organ transplant patients are unaware of their increased risk for developing skin cancer, and they are not taking adequate sun protective measures or seeing a dermatologist for skin exams. Researchers reported these findings in a press briefing here on February 1 at the American Academy of Dermatology 66th Annual Meeting (AAD). Increased susceptibility of organ transplant patients to skin cancer is the result of the necessary and ongoing use of immunosuppressive drugs. "The incidence of skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients is up to 200-fold that of age-matched controls. Further, skin cancers in transplant patients tend to be more aggressive and metastasize more frequently," the authors wrote as background to their study. "The further a person is out from their transplant and the greater the accumulated use of immunosuppressive drugs, the higher the risk of skin cancer," said Summer Youker, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States. "We found that education is key, but education that is not restricted to the hospital setting at the time of the transplant. Patients are not really thinking about this potential problem while they are in recovery from a major organ transplant," Dr. Youker noted. The prospective study included solid organ transplant recipients attending the outpatient transplant clinics at Saint Louis University. A total of 155 subjects completed a 2-page survey designed to evaluate awareness of skin cancer risk, compliance with skin cancer preventive measures, and attitudes about sunscreen use and skin screenings by a dermatologist. Of the total number of subjects, 63% were males and 37% were females. The investigators found that 65% of respondents did not know they were at risk for skin cancer, and 79% of respondents said that they recalled no discussion postoperatively about the risk of skin cancer. Overall, 19% had been examined by a dermatologist since the transplant; 16% reported getting annual skin exams. They gave the following reasons for not seeing a dermatologist: "did not know about the increased risk" (65%); and "do not want to attend another doctor's appointment" (7%). Thirty-two percent reported wearing sunscreen regularly. This was slightly more than the 22% who reported that they used sunscreen regularly before transplantation. Subjects gave the following reasons for not wearing sunscreen: "I forget to put it on" (30%); "not in sun very much" (25%); "I don't think it is important to use sunscreen" (18%); "I like looking tan" (12%); and "takes too much time to put on" (6%). "Transplant patients need to be engaged in ongoing education about the risk of skin cancer since the risk increases with time," concluded Dr. Youker. "Followup with patients for the specific purpose of education about skin cancer susceptibility is essential, and encouragement of regular examinations by a dermatologist and use of sunscreen is key. Such follow-up just isn't happening now," she added. [Presentation title: Barriers to Skin Cancer Prevention in Organ Transplant Patients. Abstract P2205] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.