High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic

If your immune system is suppressed due to organ transplant or taking medications like azathioprine, your risk of developing skin cancer rises as much as ten-fold. You need a dermatologist who will follow you closely to catch and treat any potential cancers early, before they can cause serious health problems.

We understand the rigor required to monitor and treat people at high risk for skin cancer. Dr. Carolyn Lee, our clinical director, allots more time per patient than most dermatologists, and she sees them more frequently, so she can deliver personalized care.

High-risk skin cancer care at Stanford

If you are at an increased risk for developing skin cancer due to organ transplantation or another reason, we provide comprehensive care to keep your skin healthy. We offer:

• Comprehensive follow up: We may see you monthly or even weekly in our clinic in order to identify troublesome lesions early.
• Early biopsy, early treatment: If a lesion looks suspicious to us, we don’t take a “wait-and-see” attitude, which can delay treatment. Instead, we biopsy early and treat accordingly.
• Personalized care: Our tumor board – a team of experts in all aspects of skin cancer treatment – convenes monthly to discuss every possible treatment option for you.
• Expert diagnosis: Dr. Lee has years of experience in evaluating questionable skin lesions. She often can identify a potential cancer in the pre-cancerous stages, when it is more easily treated.
• Advanced treatments: We use treatments that other dermatologists do not offer or  use often. Because chemowraps and other novel therapies are part of our day-to-day treatment strategies, we offer tremendous experience with today’s top treatments. Learn more about our treatments.
• Team approach: Your care team may include specialists from dermato-oncology, Mohs micrographic surgery, pathology, medical oncology, ear-nose-throat, head and neck clinic and more.
• Robust research program: Our research has contributed to the development of new drugs and protocols for treating advanced skin cancers.

Who we serve

We treat anyone who:

• Has received an organ transplant.
• Has chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
• Has lymphoma.
• Takes immunosuppressive drugs, including voriconazole and azathioprine.
• Is immunocompromised due to a medical condition like HIV-AIDS.
• Has ever undergone radiation therapy.
• Has a genetic predisposition to skin cancer, such as albinism or BRCA-positive.

If you fall into high-risk category, learn when to schedule an appointment by reading about who we serve.

Skin cancer conditions treated

We specialize in treating squamous cell skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (especially locally advanced and metastatic) and melanoma. If you have a suspicious skin lesion of any kind, please schedule an appointment for an evaluation.