March 12 seminar educates transplant recipients on skin cancer risk
Bryan Cho, MD, PhD -----
A special seminar at UCSF on Monday, March 12, will focus on educating transplant patients about the potential risk of skin cancer.
Organ transplant recipients have a high risk of developing skin cancer, but information about this link had not been readily available to patients until UCSF began offering public seminars and other services on the topic. Sponsored by the Department of Dermatology and Division of Transplantation, the upcoming seminar will cover the risk factors for skin cancer, appearance, early detection, preventive strategies and treatment options.
“Approximately one in 20 transplant patients die of skin related malignancies,” said Bryan Cho, MD, PhD, dermatology resident at UCSF. “Skin cancers that develop in transplant patients tend to be more aggressive, and there is a higher recurrence and metastatic rate.” The reason for this is still unknown, according to Cho, but UCSF researchers are working to better understand why.
The seminar is part of a two-year initiative to benefit the transplant recipient population in the Bay Area. In addition to free seminars, UCSF has opened a high-risk skin cancer clinic for detection and treatment, and maintains a web site with helpful information on skin cancer.
WHO:
Bryan Cho, MD, PhD, Clinical Instructor, UCSF Department of Dermatology Lisa Weber, RN, UCSF UV Bracelet Initiative
WHEN:
Monday, March 12, 5-7 p.m.
WHERE:
Herbst Auditorium, UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center, 1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
CONTACT:
To cover this event or arrange for interviews, contact Vanessa deGier at (415) 476-2557. For more information about the lecture series, visit
http://dermatology.medschool.ucsf.edu/skincancer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Representatives from Neutrogena and SunPrecautions Clothing will display some of their sun protection products and provide free samples. The seminar is made possible by a grant from the Mount Zion Health Fund and UCSF Department of Dermatology.
ABOUT UCSF: UCSF is a leading university that advances health worldwide by conducting advanced biomedical research, educating graduate students in the life sciences and health professions, and providing complex patient care.