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AFTER TRANSPLANTThe most common cancer aftertransplant is skin cancer1Immunosuppression weakens immune surveillance;skin-cancer risk rises steeply after transplant.Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common, with risk65–250 times the general population (NEJM review).2Ultraviolet light is the main driver: more sun, moreyears since transplant and fairer skin all raise therisk.3Daily protection: broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreenapplied before going out and every 2 hours; hat, longsleeves, sunglasses; avoid strong sun between 10 am and 4pm.4Protect lips and ears too (lip cancer risk also rises);choose a lip balm with SPF.5KDIGO advises an annual full-skin and lip examination bya qualified professional. Check yourself monthly: anynew spot, or one that grows, changes colour, won't heal orkeeps scabbing — see a doctor promptly.Sun protection is something you can do for your new kidney every singleday. Ask your team: "How often should I see dermatology?"BBeyond CKDbeyondckd.com/en/cards/sun-and-skin-after-transplantSources: KDIGO 2009 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Care of Kidney Transplant…Compiled from public clinical guidelines · General education, not individual medical advice
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After transplant

The most common cancer after transplant is skin cancer

Anti-rejection drugs sharply raise skin-cancer risk — but it is also the easiest to prevent and to catch early.

  1. 1Immunosuppression weakens immune surveillance; skin-cancer risk rises steeply after transplant. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common, with risk 65–250 times the general population (NEJM review).
  2. 2Ultraviolet light is the main driver: more sun, more years since transplant and fairer skin all raise the risk.
  3. 3Daily protection: broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen applied before going out and every 2 hours; hat, long sleeves, sunglasses; avoid strong sun between 10 am and 4 pm.
  4. 4Protect lips and ears too (lip cancer risk also rises); choose a lip balm with SPF.
  5. 5KDIGO advises an annual full-skin and lip examination by a qualified professional. Check yourself monthly: any new spot, or one that grows, changes colour, won't heal or keeps scabbing — see a doctor promptly.

Sun protection is something you can do for your new kidney every single day. Ask your team: "How often should I see dermatology?"

Caption (ready to paste)

Anti-rejection drugs sharply raise skin-cancer risk — but it is also the easiest to prevent and to catch early.

1. Immunosuppression weakens immune surveillance; skin-cancer risk rises steeply after transplant. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common, with risk 65–250 times the general population (NEJM review).
2. Ultraviolet light is the main driver: more sun, more years since transplant and fairer skin all raise the risk.
3. Daily protection: broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen applied before going out and every 2 hours; hat, long sleeves, sunglasses; avoid strong sun between 10 am and 4 pm.
4. Protect lips and ears too (lip cancer risk also rises); choose a lip balm with SPF.
5. KDIGO advises an annual full-skin and lip examination by a qualified professional. Check yourself monthly: any new spot, or one that grows, changes colour, won't heal or keeps scabbing — see a doctor promptly.

Sun protection is something you can do for your new kidney every single day. Ask your team: "How often should I see dermatology?"

Sources: KDIGO 2009 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Care of Kidney Transplant Recipients — Am J Transplant 2009;9(S3):S1–S155; Euvrard S, Kanitakis J, Claudy A. Skin cancers after organ transplantation — N Engl J Med 2003;348:1681–1691
Verified: 2026-10-16

Cards and scripts are general health education compiled from public clinical guidelines. They are not individual medical advice and do not replace assessment by your doctor, pharmacist or dietitian. Please keep the sources and this notice when sharing; this page holds the latest version.
https://beyondckd.com/en/cards/sun-and-skin-after-transplant
60-second short-video script

Shot list and voice-over. Vertical 9:16; put captions in the lower third. Every line maps to the sources on the left.

secScreenVoice-over
0–5Close-up of a forearm in sunlightWhat is the most common cancer after a transplant? Not the kidney — the skin.
5–16Immune cells suppressed, skin cells mutating; "65–250×"Anti-rejection drugs dampen immune surveillance, and skin-cancer risk climbs steeply. Squamous cell carcinoma, the most common, is sixty-five to two hundred and fifty times more likely than in the general population.
16–24Sun + timeline + skin tonesUltraviolet light is the main driver. More sun, more years since transplant and fairer skin all raise the risk.
24–37SPF 30+ sunscreen, hat, long sleeves, sunglasses; clock 10–16Every day: broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, applied before you go out and every two hours. Hat, long sleeves, sunglasses. Avoid strong sun between ten and four.
37–45SPF lip balm, sunscreen on earsLips and ears too. Lip-cancer risk rises as well — choose a lip balm with SPF.
45–55Annual dermatology check; magnifier on a spotKDIGO advises a yearly full-skin and lip exam. Check yourself monthly: anything new, growing, changing, not healing or scabbing again and again — see a doctor promptly.
55–60Site logo + URL + QRSun protection is something you can do for your new kidney every day. More at Beyond CKD.

Sources (every point on the card maps to one)

Verified: 2026-10-16