Can you get cancer from an organ transplant?

While technically I suppose it is true that if an organ was transplanted that had cancer, a tumour or other type of cancer, the new host to the organ would then have cancer; but it is highly unlikely if not impossible for that to happen.  No creditable doctor would ever make such a transplant, maybe Nick Rivera from The Simpsons would, but even he would only do it unintentionally.  

Typically once you’ve had cancer you’re ruled out as a potential organ donor.  This is because the organ may be cancerous and cause the recipient of the organ to contract that from of cancer.  That’s why stringent testing is done on the organs before they are used.  Even people who have beaten cancer maybe not be approved to be an organ donor, cancer has a habit of returning.  Some forms of cancer however are localized and thus people with those types may still donate organs.  Skin cancer is a good example of a type of cancer that stays localized, brain cancer is another.

After saying all that I will have to concede that although the American Cancer Society claims that the chances of an organ recipient contracting cancer from a donated organ are exceedingly small, it has happened in the past.

Remember to take your vitamins and sign your organ donor cards!