Skin cancer
Skin cancer is cancer that starts in your skin cells. Skin cancer is mostly caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays, such as from the sun or tanning beds.
The 3 main types of skin cancer are:
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Squamous cell carcinoma – Cancer that starts in your squamous cells in the outer layer of your skin. This is the most common type of cancer for transplant recipients.
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Basal cell carcinoma – Cancer that starts in your basal cells in the outer layer of your skin. This is the most common type of skin cancer for the general public.
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Melanoma – Cancer that starts in your melanocytes, which are skin cells that produce melanin that gives your skin color. This is the most serious type of skin cancer as it can spread to other parts of your body, making it harder to treat.
Transplant recipients have a higher chance of non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell and squamous cell cancers. Of those, they are more likely to get squamous cell cancers.