COMPLICATIONS - MALIGNANCY

N. Williams¹, A. Tong¹, K. Howard², J. Craig¹, G. Wong^1
1Centre For Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney/NSW/AUSTRALIA, ²School Of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney/AUSTRALIA

Body: Introduction Despite an increased risk of cancer post transplant, little is known about transplant recipient knowledge and perception of cancer risk, prevention and screening in the kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant population. This study aims to explore the perspectives of kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients on cancer risk, prevention and screening. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 kidney and 8 kidney-pancreas transplant recipients at a renal clinic of a tertiary-referral hospital in Sydney, Australia between October 2009 and February 2010. Results Thematic data analysis identified four major themes: 1) single organ risk perception; participants were aware about an increased risk of skin cancer but not other solid organ cancers; 2) ignorance of cancer screening practices; participants vigilantly attended post-transplant follow up and regular skin checks, but did not receive screening recommendations for common solid organ cancers such as breast, colorectal and cervical cancer; 3) cancer fears heightened by personal and family experiences; participants were more likely to be concerned about cancer if they had a family history; and 4) absorbing cancer risk information; participants were focused on maintaining kidney function or managing current side effects, which affected their willingness or ability to receive and absorb new information. Conclusions Awareness of increased cancer risk and cancer screening among kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients is narrowly focused on skin cancer, with limited awareness of overall post-transplant cancer risk. Strategies are required to ensure effective communication by transplant care providers, focusing on methods of evidence-based information delivery, improving information delivery from the patients’ perspectives and addressing barriers to information receptivity, with the ultimate objective to improve patients’ knowledge of cancer risk, prevention and early detection in transplantation.

Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.