Increased risk for Melanoma...

freedigitalphotos.com

At Suvara, we're all about safe tanning...which is why we've become artisans of the safe, air-brush alternative to the sun and tanning beds. It's extremely important for everyone to know the hazards and dangers of sun damage, especially if you have fair skin and are exposed to the skin regularly. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists, melanoma runs in the family. That's right... just like breast cancer, if a relative has had it, the odds are higher for you. The stats indicate that between 5% and 10% of melanoma cases that develop are from people who have a family history of the deadly cancer. The cause in some families is a gene mutation, which is passed along from one generation to the next, increasing the risk. Not everyone inherits the gene automatically, but it is imperative to research your family history to find out if you're at greater risk. 

Make sure you address the risks before you enjoy the outdoors...

Taken from the SkincarePhysicians.com website which is hosted by the American Academy of Dermatology, here are clues that you might be carrying the gene mutation:

"Clues that a Melanoma Gene Runs in the Family
Often gathering a family history provides enough information to find out if a gene mutation for melanoma runs in the family. When a gene mutation for melanoma is passed down, the family tree often reveals the following:

• 2 or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, or child) or 3 or more blood relatives developed melanoma
• Multiple generations developed melanoma
• Family members developed melanoma in their 40s, 30s, or at an even younger age
• Family members with melanoma usually developed more than 1 primary (original) melanoma
• Family history of cancer of the pancreas

The more traits seen in the family tree, the more likely it is that a gene mutation for melanoma runs in the family.

Talking with relatives about skin cancer can have another benefit as one study found. When researchers set out to confirm a family history of melanoma by speaking with the affected family member or looking at the family member’s medical records, they learned that 82% of the relatives believed to have melanoma did not have melanoma. They had another type of skin cancer. This news relieved many who believed that they would eventually develop melanoma."