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A highly functioning immune system is essential to prevent and control the development and spread of skin cancer. There is a delicate balance that must occur when working with transplant and high-risk individuals. Transplant recipients need to take immunosuppressant medications to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplanted organ. These drugs weaken the immune system, making it less effective at fighting off cancer cells, including those in the skin. Immunosuppression also makes the skin more vulnerable to the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The AHN Transplant and High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic is focused on treating transplant recipients and those who are at higher risk for skin cancer.
If you are on immune suppression as part of your solid organ transplant, you are at:
As part of the organ recipient process, a dermatologist needs to screen you for skin cancer before you are placed on the organ transplant recipient list. This is to ensure there is no skin cancer present at baseline before starting immunosuppressive medications upon receiving the transplant.
The team at the AHN Transplant and High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic has the experience and expertise to manage and treat this specific population with coordinated, personalized care.
Other medical conditions that raise your risk of skin cancer include:
Getting regular skin screenings, wearing sunscreen, and talking to your doctor about any changes in your skin are important for everyone, but even more so if you are immunocompromised.
At AHN, we specialize in providing expert care for individuals with weakened immune systems. This includes patients who have undergone solid organ transplants or are at high risk for skin cancer due to their medical condition or medications. Our team understands the unique challenges faced by you and provides comprehensive and personalized care to help you maintain your health and well-being. At AHN you can expect:
AHN’s Skin Cancer Center Director and Surgical Oncologist Dr. Howard Edington has been an active member and supporter of the Pittsburgh Melanoma Foundation since its inception. With a patient-driven agenda, this foundation has helped thousands of patients while raising money for many research and skin cancer efforts. Survivor support is also available to connect those who are currently or have been affected by melanoma or skin cancer.
At the AHN Cancer Institute Skin Cancer Center at West Penn hospital, our multidisciplinary team consists of dermatologists and surgical oncologists specially trained in the care of transplant, immunosuppressed, and other high-risk skin cancer patients, including routine screening and dermatology clearance required prior to organ transplantation as well as skin cancer prevention and treatment.
Available skin cancer treatments include:
If you received an organ transplant or are referred by another doctor, such as an oncologist who diagnoses you with Lynch Syndrome, which raises your skin cancer risk, you have a direct line to this clinic. We generally see high-risk patients that week, if not that same day. This differs from regular dermatologist visit, where it may take much longer to be seen.
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Your transplant specialist and high-risk skin cancer specialist will be crucial in your treatment plan. They are highly experienced in managing these complex procedures, specifically in the context of skin cancer. They will guide you through the entire process, from pre-transplant preparations to post-transplant recovery, ensuring you understand every step, including potential risks and benefits. They'll also work closely with other specialists to create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Oncologist
Dermatologist
If you want to be tested for or have been diagnosed with skin cancer, we’re here to help.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Take control of your skin health with the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center. Call (412) 578-HOPE (412) 578-4673 to schedule an appointment at any location within the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute or connect with a nurse navigator.
AHN holds weekly and monthly cancer screening clinics throughout Western Pennsylvania. We screen for seven different types of cancer, including skin cancer. Find a cancer screening clinic near you.
AHN is committed to evolving the study and practice of medicine and new technological advancements that will help our patients lead longer, healthier lives. Our high-risk skin cancer research includes:
Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat cancer with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer returning.
You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study, and you can stop participating in a trial at any time.
The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains the goal of the trial and how the study will be conducted. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.
Common criteria for entering a trial are:
Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run ethically, with your rights and safety protected. These rules are in place to ensure that you are not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.
If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking cancer solutions, ask your doctor if you are eligible to participate. Find currently active cancer clinical trials at AHN.
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There are three ways for medical professionals, who are not a part of Allegheny Health Network, to refer their patients to an AHN specialist and request their first appointment. You can:
For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.
After referring your patient to an AHN specialist, use the EpicCare Link platform to collaborate with their AHN specialist and view your patient’s test results, treatment plan, and progress.
Log in to your EpicCare Link account now
If you are new to EpicCare Link, or need to request your own EpicCare Link account, check the EpicCare Link for Patient Follow-up for user instructions and new account request forms.
If you can’t access your patient’s AHN test results through the EpicCare Link platform, your patient will need to complete and submit the correct AHN Medical Records Release form, based on their state of residency. Support your patient’s request by downloading the correct medical records release form for them:
EpicCare® is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
EpicCare® Link™ is a trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
Learn more about our appointment options, second opinions, locations, referrals, and resources that are at your disposal.
The Allegheny Health Network follows all applicable equal opportunity laws and supports a diverse workplace, fostering communications and participation while providing reward and recognition for individual and team achievements. Our policies prohibit unlawful discrimination due to race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, income level or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law or regulation.