Why transplant recipients have a higher chance of cancer
In this section:
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Why do transplant recipients need immunosuppressants?
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How do immunosuppressants raise the chance of cancer?
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What cancers are transplant recipients especially at-risk for?
Transplant recipients have a higher chance of cancer because of the immunosuppressant drugs they take. Immunosuppressant drugs lower (or suppress) part of your immune system, which are the cells, tissues, and organs that help your body fight infection and destroy cancer cells. When the immune system is suppressed, cancer can grow more easily.
But please note, by finding and treating cancer early, most cancers today have excellent treatment results!
Why do transplant recipients need immunosuppressants?
When someone gets an organ transplant, their immune system may try to protect their body by attacking the new organ as a foreign object (called transplant rejection). This is because our immune system fights infection and illness, but may sometimes attack cells they see as “foreign.”
When someone gets an organ transplant, their immune system may try to protect their body by attacking the new organ as a foreign object (called transplant rejection). This is because our immune system fights infection and illness, but may sometimes attack cells they see as “foreign.”
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