What caused your melanoma?

The only criteria I meet of all the mentioned items is beiing over 50. My wife meets all the above criteria, plus the physical characteristics likely for melanoma except for the family history. I
have the problem, not her!

The only criteria I meet of all the mentioned items is beiing over 50. My wife meets all the above criteria, plus the physical characteristics likely for melanoma except for the family history. I
have the problem, not her!

What caused my melanoma? I don't give a bugger anymore. What I AM interested in at this point, is what will CURE it 😀

What caused my melanoma? I don't give a bugger anymore. What I AM interested in at this point, is what will CURE it 😀

I pretty much fit none of the stated criteria:

I have many moles but only a few are large or irregular.

No history.

Dark skinned.

Consider my immune system pretty good. (I'm 46)

See above-not yet 50.

Never smoked.

Is there something else I want to add to the possible causes of melanoma?

Too much sun exposure-lived on the beach growing up and as a adult.

One more thing, I give no credit to ACS for anything.

I pretty much fit none of the stated criteria:

I have many moles but only a few are large or irregular.

No history.

Dark skinned.

Consider my immune system pretty good. (I'm 46)

See above-not yet 50.

Never smoked.

Is there something else I want to add to the possible causes of melanoma?

Too much sun exposure-lived on the beach growing up and as a adult.

One more thing, I give no credit to ACS for anything.

I'm 3rd generation melanoma, brunette & not fair skinned, great immune system (even now), I was still 48 when diagnosed, smoked a little as a teenager…

A teenager who lived across the street from the pool where I did bask, with Johnson's Baby Oil, and did get at least three really goooood burns…later to be told by oncologist that one is all it takes.

Plus, besides having lots of small moles, particularly the beautiful red kind, I had this one really fantastic looking mole that looked like two that overlapped…the kind that causes strangers to tell you there's a tick on your arm….which leads to what I'd add to the list…not a "cause" of melanoma but a warning that trouble is coming…

When you have someone be the voice of doom and gloom, day in and day out for decades because of that funky double-mole and tell you that it's going to give you trouble one day and you need to have it removed..if you have that going on and maybe more voices chime in…lucky me, I had THREE people constantly warning about that mole…if anyone has people warning them about potential trouble from a mole, I would add that's a good thing to listen to and great advice to take…while ignoring them, for whatever reason(s) may seem a good & rebellious cause of action, particularly if the prominent voice is your mother's and you're a teenage girl, it can also be a future fatal mistake.

Other risk factor: at least one person who sees you daily telling you constantly that a particular mole looks bad and will cause trouble one day, with appropriate begging & pleading to get it removed.

Grace and peace,

Carol

I'm 3rd generation melanoma, brunette & not fair skinned, great immune system (even now), I was still 48 when diagnosed, smoked a little as a teenager…

A teenager who lived across the street from the pool where I did bask, with Johnson's Baby Oil, and did get at least three really goooood burns…later to be told by oncologist that one is all it takes.

Plus, besides having lots of small moles, particularly the beautiful red kind, I had this one really fantastic looking mole that looked like two that overlapped…the kind that causes strangers to tell you there's a tick on your arm….which leads to what I'd add to the list…not a "cause" of melanoma but a warning that trouble is coming…

When you have someone be the voice of doom and gloom, day in and day out for decades because of that funky double-mole and tell you that it's going to give you trouble one day and you need to have it removed..if you have that going on and maybe more voices chime in…lucky me, I had THREE people constantly warning about that mole…if anyone has people warning them about potential trouble from a mole, I would add that's a good thing to listen to and great advice to take…while ignoring them, for whatever reason(s) may seem a good & rebellious cause of action, particularly if the prominent voice is your mother's and you're a teenage girl, it can also be a future fatal mistake.

Other risk factor: at least one person who sees you daily telling you constantly that a particular mole looks bad and will cause trouble one day, with appropriate begging & pleading to get it removed.

Grace and peace,

Carol

I am also a 3rd generation melanoma patient. My Dr. at MDA said with 3 generations, its very likely hereditary for me. I also have all other risk factors besides smoking and age.

I am also a 3rd generation melanoma patient. My Dr. at MDA said with 3 generations, its very likely hereditary for me. I also have all other risk factors besides smoking and age.

Hi Gene,

Melanoma is not necessarily sun-related.I am 40, of Mediterranean origin, Caucasian – white to darker skin, always tanned nicely and quick with no sunburns ever;no history of skin cancer in my family!I had been diagnosed  with cervical melanoma out of the blue and all oncologists so far  are 100% positive sun has nothing to do with it as  sun doesn't shine in there! So go figure!Genetic plus environmental factors are all to be considered , but still melanoma is a very individual and unpredictable disease and everyone could be at risk.Latest studies suggest that  1 in 68 Americans are  at risk at getting it, one way or another.

Best regards,

Teodora, stage 3

Hi Gene,

Melanoma is not necessarily sun-related.I am 40, of Mediterranean origin, Caucasian – white to darker skin, always tanned nicely and quick with no sunburns ever;no history of skin cancer in my family!I had been diagnosed  with cervical melanoma out of the blue and all oncologists so far  are 100% positive sun has nothing to do with it as  sun doesn't shine in there! So go figure!Genetic plus environmental factors are all to be considered , but still melanoma is a very individual and unpredictable disease and everyone could be at risk.Latest studies suggest that  1 in 68 Americans are  at risk at getting it, one way or another.

Best regards,

Teodora, stage 3

I like NicOz responses. Who cares anymore? I just want to cure it. 😀

I never used a tanning salon(all my friends in high school did and I'm the one with melanoma)

I did grow up in Southern Utah and Idaho and I'm sure got a few  "bad" sunburns as a kid but once again so did all my buddies. I'm light skinned kinda I guess. I have freckles but very few moles.

No family history, no smoking, was 25 when diagnosed, pretty good immune system at the time. Very rarely got sick. So I really didn't match up with any of the common causes.

Kellie(from Iowa) Stage IV
 

I like NicOz responses. Who cares anymore? I just want to cure it. 😀

I never used a tanning salon(all my friends in high school did and I'm the one with melanoma)

I did grow up in Southern Utah and Idaho and I'm sure got a few  "bad" sunburns as a kid but once again so did all my buddies. I'm light skinned kinda I guess. I have freckles but very few moles.

No family history, no smoking, was 25 when diagnosed, pretty good immune system at the time. Very rarely got sick. So I really didn't match up with any of the common causes.

Kellie(from Iowa) Stage IV
 

Is smoking really a risk factor for melanoma?

Of course, it is involved in many other cancers, but I have not seen it linked to melanoma.

Alcohol intake on the other hand is linked to an increased melanoma risk. http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/13/6/1042.long

It is not an exponentially increased risk (as with long-time smoking and lung cancer), but still quite significant.

Is smoking really a risk factor for melanoma?

Of course, it is involved in many other cancers, but I have not seen it linked to melanoma.

Alcohol intake on the other hand is linked to an increased melanoma risk. http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/13/6/1042.long

It is not an exponentially increased risk (as with long-time smoking and lung cancer), but still quite significant.

Gene,

Saw on your profile that as of May 27th you'd had significant shrinkage since using IPI -congrats!

As for what was the cause for my melanoma – sun exposure.  Grew up 2 miles from the beach and actually played outside as a kid = sunburns.  Later in life went to tanning salons  just before going away on vacations so I 'wouldn't burn'.  No two ways about it, for me it was the sun.    Was dx'ed under age of 50, didn't/don't smoke, no family history, great immune system (that's been helping in this battle), a few moles.

Now take vit D3 (past 5 years) and still go out, but cover up with long sleeve sun safe clothing and hats when gardening, vacationing in Florida, or driving my convertible.  Sunscreen goes on any exposed areas.

-Rocco

Gene,

Saw on your profile that as of May 27th you'd had significant shrinkage since using IPI -congrats!

As for what was the cause for my melanoma – sun exposure.  Grew up 2 miles from the beach and actually played outside as a kid = sunburns.  Later in life went to tanning salons  just before going away on vacations so I 'wouldn't burn'.  No two ways about it, for me it was the sun.    Was dx'ed under age of 50, didn't/don't smoke, no family history, great immune system (that's been helping in this battle), a few moles.

Now take vit D3 (past 5 years) and still go out, but cover up with long sleeve sun safe clothing and hats when gardening, vacationing in Florida, or driving my convertible.  Sunscreen goes on any exposed areas.

-Rocco

Does anyone REALLY KNOW what causes melanoma?  I fit part of the typical profile of "risk" factors (see blog link below), yet my melanoma was on my right rib cage in an area that received little to no sun.  I'm new to this MM journey (less than 2 months in) and scared half to death about it.

Sharon

 http://journey-with-melanoma.blogspot.com/

Does anyone REALLY KNOW what causes melanoma?  I fit part of the typical profile of "risk" factors (see blog link below), yet my melanoma was on my right rib cage in an area that received little to no sun.  I'm new to this MM journey (less than 2 months in) and scared half to death about it.

Sharon

 http://journey-with-melanoma.blogspot.com/

My "friend" says the melanoma on my scalp is the result of not using "natural" shampoos. When I reminded her that most people get melanoma in other bodily locations where shampoo is not used, she still insists that MY melanoma came from not using "natural" shampoo.

What ya gonna do?

Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

My "friend" says the melanoma on my scalp is the result of not using "natural" shampoos. When I reminded her that most people get melanoma in other bodily locations where shampoo is not used, she still insists that MY melanoma came from not using "natural" shampoo.

What ya gonna do?

Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

I had a Great Grandmother that had melanoma on her finger in her younger years.  She passed away at age 98.  Anyway that is the only confirmed melanoma in my family.  I am somewhat light skinned and have light brown hair.  I have several moles and freckles.  I was told my melanoma was probably from the sun.  I would burn every spring and then tan the rest of the summer.  I did not use tanning beds and really did not spend that much time in the sun on a consistant basis.  My sister on the other hand laid in the sun almost daily and frequently used tanning beds for years and I am the one to get Melanoma.  Go figure. Not that I would ever wish this on anyone. 

I had a Great Grandmother that had melanoma on her finger in her younger years.  She passed away at age 98.  Anyway that is the only confirmed melanoma in my family.  I am somewhat light skinned and have light brown hair.  I have several moles and freckles.  I was told my melanoma was probably from the sun.  I would burn every spring and then tan the rest of the summer.  I did not use tanning beds and really did not spend that much time in the sun on a consistant basis.  My sister on the other hand laid in the sun almost daily and frequently used tanning beds for years and I am the one to get Melanoma.  Go figure. Not that I would ever wish this on anyone. 

I know of 2 cases where melanoma was apparently caused by skin infections. One person had
a mole that would often be irritated while he was shaving. The other case involved a mole
on the chest that would also be irritated and eventually refused to heal properly. There
was minimal sun exposure involved.

Although I couldn't find anything specific about melanoma, here is a link about cancer and
infections in general:
http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/ncicancerbulletin/archive/2009/092209/page5

Best wishes

Frank from Australia

I know of 2 cases where melanoma was apparently caused by skin infections. One person had
a mole that would often be irritated while he was shaving. The other case involved a mole
on the chest that would also be irritated and eventually refused to heal properly. There
was minimal sun exposure involved.

Although I couldn't find anything specific about melanoma, here is a link about cancer and
infections in general:
http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/ncicancerbulletin/archive/2009/092209/page5

Best wishes

Frank from Australia

Hi Gene,  I don't have many moles, no family history of mel, and I'm not over the age of 50 (yet–I'll hit the big 50 in 4 months).  I do smoke and have very fair skin.  I believe without a doubt my mel. came from the sun.  I burned so many times as a child, and 2-3 times, around age 19,  I burned so severely I blistered immediately, and had chills and fever.  Once, my face blistered so bad, I had liquid all across my forehead and entire face, and my eyes swelled shut.  Then it all scabbed over.  I was sooooooo vain and working in a law firm at the time.  It was so embarrassing going to work with no make-up and looking like a freak.  I read once that it takes 20 to 50 years for the cellular changes from burns to turn into cancer.  It was exactly 20 years later I was DX with mel…..on my face, of course!

The kiddos who are diagnosed at 12-18 months or so.. theirs didn't come from the sun.  And with no family history, it's a mystery as to why they ever get this damned disease.

I wish I knew exactly the factors that cause melanoma, but I'm not sure we'll ever know all the answers.

Take care,

~Lisa~

Hi Gene,  I don't have many moles, no family history of mel, and I'm not over the age of 50 (yet–I'll hit the big 50 in 4 months).  I do smoke and have very fair skin.  I believe without a doubt my mel. came from the sun.  I burned so many times as a child, and 2-3 times, around age 19,  I burned so severely I blistered immediately, and had chills and fever.  Once, my face blistered so bad, I had liquid all across my forehead and entire face, and my eyes swelled shut.  Then it all scabbed over.  I was sooooooo vain and working in a law firm at the time.  It was so embarrassing going to work with no make-up and looking like a freak.  I read once that it takes 20 to 50 years for the cellular changes from burns to turn into cancer.  It was exactly 20 years later I was DX with mel…..on my face, of course!

The kiddos who are diagnosed at 12-18 months or so.. theirs didn't come from the sun.  And with no family history, it's a mystery as to why they ever get this damned disease.

I wish I knew exactly the factors that cause melanoma, but I'm not sure we'll ever know all the answers.

Take care,

~Lisa~