Family History of Melanoma?

No family history here… and I had ( before immune reactions changing skin pigment) olive complection. Lots of moles and more days than I could ever count on the beaches in south FL where I grew up.My mom has had several basal cell carcinomas removed over the years, but no melanoma.

Tina

No family history here… and I had ( before immune reactions changing skin pigment) olive complection. Lots of moles and more days than I could ever count on the beaches in south FL where I grew up.My mom has had several basal cell carcinomas removed over the years, but no melanoma.

Tina

No family history here… and I had ( before immune reactions changing skin pigment) olive complection. Lots of moles and more days than I could ever count on the beaches in south FL where I grew up.My mom has had several basal cell carcinomas removed over the years, but no melanoma.

Tina

My husband has no family history of melanoma.  He blames his on working 40 years mostly midnights and afternoon turns and not getting much of the good sunshine with the Vitamin D that the body needs.  His melanoma started on the back of his head under a full and thick head of hair.  He does not have a history of a lot of burns either.  He has never used tanning beds.

He takes Vitamin D3 supplements and tries to get 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight when the sun cooperates but in NE Ohio that is not very often.

Judy (loving wife of Gene)

My husband has no family history of melanoma.  He blames his on working 40 years mostly midnights and afternoon turns and not getting much of the good sunshine with the Vitamin D that the body needs.  His melanoma started on the back of his head under a full and thick head of hair.  He does not have a history of a lot of burns either.  He has never used tanning beds.

He takes Vitamin D3 supplements and tries to get 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight when the sun cooperates but in NE Ohio that is not very often.

Judy (loving wife of Gene)

My husband has no family history of melanoma.  He blames his on working 40 years mostly midnights and afternoon turns and not getting much of the good sunshine with the Vitamin D that the body needs.  His melanoma started on the back of his head under a full and thick head of hair.  He does not have a history of a lot of burns either.  He has never used tanning beds.

He takes Vitamin D3 supplements and tries to get 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight when the sun cooperates but in NE Ohio that is not very often.

Judy (loving wife of Gene)

No melanoma but a few breast cancers.

Colleen 

No melanoma but a few breast cancers.

Colleen 

No melanoma but a few breast cancers.

Colleen 

Yes, family history here. My father, uncle and aunt & a few cousins have all had melanoma. Of course, we are all fair skinned, blue eyes & spent many summers at the beach.

Cathy

Yes, family history here. My father, uncle and aunt & a few cousins have all had melanoma. Of course, we are all fair skinned, blue eyes & spent many summers at the beach.

Cathy

Yes, family history here. My father, uncle and aunt & a few cousins have all had melanoma. Of course, we are all fair skinned, blue eyes & spent many summers at the beach.

Cathy

Nope. No family history of melanoma or moles. Also, I apparently never had a primary.

Nope. No family history of melanoma or moles. Also, I apparently never had a primary.

Nope. No family history of melanoma or moles. Also, I apparently never had a primary.

My father had a melanoma stage 1 recur after 18 yrs as stage 4, two brain mets. I month after he died, I was diagnosed stage 3c. My younger brother has had a melanoma stage 1 removed. We aren’t fair complected or fair haired. We spent our time outside, but no tanning beds and none of us ever lived near the beach.

My father had a melanoma stage 1 recur after 18 yrs as stage 4, two brain mets. I month after he died, I was diagnosed stage 3c. My younger brother has had a melanoma stage 1 removed. We aren’t fair complected or fair haired. We spent our time outside, but no tanning beds and none of us ever lived near the beach.

My father had a melanoma stage 1 recur after 18 yrs as stage 4, two brain mets. I month after he died, I was diagnosed stage 3c. My younger brother has had a melanoma stage 1 removed. We aren’t fair complected or fair haired. We spent our time outside, but no tanning beds and none of us ever lived near the beach.

No family history here.  Plus my identical twin has had a couple basal cell but no melanoma.  A while back I asked about other twins, and the other twins who responded said their twins were clear.

No family history here.  Plus my identical twin has had a couple basal cell but no melanoma.  A while back I asked about other twins, and the other twins who responded said their twins were clear.

No family history here.  Plus my identical twin has had a couple basal cell but no melanoma.  A while back I asked about other twins, and the other twins who responded said their twins were clear.

My mother had melanoma when she was about 26 – stage unknown.  She survived with no reoccurance.  I didn't develope it until I was 57.  I was a sun worshiper, mother was not. 

Mary

Stage 3

My mother had melanoma when she was about 26 – stage unknown.  She survived with no reoccurance.  I didn't develope it until I was 57.  I was a sun worshiper, mother was not. 

Mary

Stage 3

My mother had melanoma when she was about 26 – stage unknown.  She survived with no reoccurance.  I didn't develope it until I was 57.  I was a sun worshiper, mother was not. 

Mary

Stage 3

No family history of melanoma.  Just too many bad sunburns growing up, with very fair skin.

No family history of melanoma.  Just too many bad sunburns growing up, with very fair skin.

No family history of melanoma.  Just too many bad sunburns growing up, with very fair skin.

No family history.  Fair skin with lots of moles and sunburns in the summer growing up.  

No family history.  Fair skin with lots of moles and sunburns in the summer growing up.  

No family history.  Fair skin with lots of moles and sunburns in the summer growing up.  

No family history. 17 years in Hawaii, though, hundreds of moles, lots of childhood sunburns. Previous squamous cell carcinomas on skin. 

No family history. 17 years in Hawaii, though, hundreds of moles, lots of childhood sunburns. Previous squamous cell carcinomas on skin. 

No family history. 17 years in Hawaii, though, hundreds of moles, lots of childhood sunburns. Previous squamous cell carcinomas on skin. 

The only family history for me is basil cell carcinoma. No melanoma. I have fair skin, lots of sunburns, and used tanning beds as a teenager and in my 20's.

The only family history for me is basil cell carcinoma. No melanoma. I have fair skin, lots of sunburns, and used tanning beds as a teenager and in my 20's.

The only family history for me is basil cell carcinoma. No melanoma. I have fair skin, lots of sunburns, and used tanning beds as a teenager and in my 20's.

I think this is a great question and many times I  have wanted to ask it in a general way.  Also, I wish everyone would post other significant details in their profiles so when we are researching we can identify specific details that we can identify with,  that  might be  requirements in many trials or treatments that we are considering or  participating in….. it would really  help alot.

No family history.  I am the pale/medium skin complexion, light blue eyes and blond, Northern Swede scandanavian and I'm almost the same as my Dad, except he had a very olive complexion and absolutely no skin issues whatsoever!   However my father's family is plagued with auto immune disorders.  Now my mother's side is quite healthy but they had some weird skin disorders, mostly ichthyosis….have you every heard of that one?  I truly believe it is the combination of my parents genes, the fact that I grew up in a house of smokers and early sunburns as a kid (I live in Seattle) hello!!

I was diagnosed at stage 4, which was shocking to my dermotologist as I have never had any skin cancer of any kind, never a suspicious mole and  I don't even have moles!!  However, I am 56 and in my day, suntan was everything and I live in Seattle…rain, rain, rain!  So when the sun did come out we slathered our bodies with baby oil and went out all day knowing we would probably burn,  but BURN is good…turns into TAN…Right??  I think that is a huge part of this puzzle, to much sun at an early age and depending on your family history and the inherited genes, your skin might have been to fragile to handle the intense sun.  I've heard the common factor of to much intense sun at one time verses a gradual conditioning of suntan, I do think there is a huge difference!

I did use a tanning bed a few times from age 35 to 45, always starting minimally and building, never intensely, mostly to obtain a small tan before going to a tropical place but probably only 2 or 3 times in my lifetime.    One thing I've thought of is that I used a low grade of antibiotics for acne in my teens and twenties which causes your skin to be more sensitive to the sun, may causing sunburn ……that has caused me concern.  

This is a great question and I'm glad you asked it, it is very interesting and thought provoking to read all the answers.  Sometimes I think we are the scientists here….. we have practical  knowledge.

Best wishes to all on this site…I love you all!

Swanee

I think this is a great question and many times I  have wanted to ask it in a general way.  Also, I wish everyone would post other significant details in their profiles so when we are researching we can identify specific details that we can identify with,  that  might be  requirements in many trials or treatments that we are considering or  participating in….. it would really  help alot.

No family history.  I am the pale/medium skin complexion, light blue eyes and blond, Northern Swede scandanavian and I'm almost the same as my Dad, except he had a very olive complexion and absolutely no skin issues whatsoever!   However my father's family is plagued with auto immune disorders.  Now my mother's side is quite healthy but they had some weird skin disorders, mostly ichthyosis….have you every heard of that one?  I truly believe it is the combination of my parents genes, the fact that I grew up in a house of smokers and early sunburns as a kid (I live in Seattle) hello!!

I was diagnosed at stage 4, which was shocking to my dermotologist as I have never had any skin cancer of any kind, never a suspicious mole and  I don't even have moles!!  However, I am 56 and in my day, suntan was everything and I live in Seattle…rain, rain, rain!  So when the sun did come out we slathered our bodies with baby oil and went out all day knowing we would probably burn,  but BURN is good…turns into TAN…Right??  I think that is a huge part of this puzzle, to much sun at an early age and depending on your family history and the inherited genes, your skin might have been to fragile to handle the intense sun.  I've heard the common factor of to much intense sun at one time verses a gradual conditioning of suntan, I do think there is a huge difference!

I did use a tanning bed a few times from age 35 to 45, always starting minimally and building, never intensely, mostly to obtain a small tan before going to a tropical place but probably only 2 or 3 times in my lifetime.    One thing I've thought of is that I used a low grade of antibiotics for acne in my teens and twenties which causes your skin to be more sensitive to the sun, may causing sunburn ……that has caused me concern.  

This is a great question and I'm glad you asked it, it is very interesting and thought provoking to read all the answers.  Sometimes I think we are the scientists here….. we have practical  knowledge.

Best wishes to all on this site…I love you all!

Swanee

I think this is a great question and many times I  have wanted to ask it in a general way.  Also, I wish everyone would post other significant details in their profiles so when we are researching we can identify specific details that we can identify with,  that  might be  requirements in many trials or treatments that we are considering or  participating in….. it would really  help alot.

No family history.  I am the pale/medium skin complexion, light blue eyes and blond, Northern Swede scandanavian and I'm almost the same as my Dad, except he had a very olive complexion and absolutely no skin issues whatsoever!   However my father's family is plagued with auto immune disorders.  Now my mother's side is quite healthy but they had some weird skin disorders, mostly ichthyosis….have you every heard of that one?  I truly believe it is the combination of my parents genes, the fact that I grew up in a house of smokers and early sunburns as a kid (I live in Seattle) hello!!

I was diagnosed at stage 4, which was shocking to my dermotologist as I have never had any skin cancer of any kind, never a suspicious mole and  I don't even have moles!!  However, I am 56 and in my day, suntan was everything and I live in Seattle…rain, rain, rain!  So when the sun did come out we slathered our bodies with baby oil and went out all day knowing we would probably burn,  but BURN is good…turns into TAN…Right??  I think that is a huge part of this puzzle, to much sun at an early age and depending on your family history and the inherited genes, your skin might have been to fragile to handle the intense sun.  I've heard the common factor of to much intense sun at one time verses a gradual conditioning of suntan, I do think there is a huge difference!

I did use a tanning bed a few times from age 35 to 45, always starting minimally and building, never intensely, mostly to obtain a small tan before going to a tropical place but probably only 2 or 3 times in my lifetime.    One thing I've thought of is that I used a low grade of antibiotics for acne in my teens and twenties which causes your skin to be more sensitive to the sun, may causing sunburn ……that has caused me concern.  

This is a great question and I'm glad you asked it, it is very interesting and thought provoking to read all the answers.  Sometimes I think we are the scientists here….. we have practical  knowledge.

Best wishes to all on this site…I love you all!

Swanee

My Boyfriends Mother had melanoma at age 44, with brain metastasis and died at 45. My boyfriend was diagnosed stage 4 at 44 as well, with brain metastasis.  He has no primary, and the doctors said they believed he got it from his mom.    

My Boyfriends Mother had melanoma at age 44, with brain metastasis and died at 45. My boyfriend was diagnosed stage 4 at 44 as well, with brain metastasis.  He has no primary, and the doctors said they believed he got it from his mom.    

My Boyfriends Mother had melanoma at age 44, with brain metastasis and died at 45. My boyfriend was diagnosed stage 4 at 44 as well, with brain metastasis.  He has no primary, and the doctors said they believed he got it from his mom.    

No family history. No cancer of any kind in my immediate family either. I had three primary mels in two year period, first one at age 28. Lots of bad sun exposure and lots of burns as a teenager and as a child. Many moderately to severely dysplastic moles removed starting at about the age of 9. Father and sister have hundreds of moles (as do I), but theirs have been checked and nothing!

No family history. No cancer of any kind in my immediate family either. I had three primary mels in two year period, first one at age 28. Lots of bad sun exposure and lots of burns as a teenager and as a child. Many moderately to severely dysplastic moles removed starting at about the age of 9. Father and sister have hundreds of moles (as do I), but theirs have been checked and nothing!

No family history. No cancer of any kind in my immediate family either. I had three primary mels in two year period, first one at age 28. Lots of bad sun exposure and lots of burns as a teenager and as a child. Many moderately to severely dysplastic moles removed starting at about the age of 9. Father and sister have hundreds of moles (as do I), but theirs have been checked and nothing!

Seems incorrect with all these responses to suggest that sun exposure does not cause skin cancer.  I've read before on this board sometimes where it's suggested intense sun exposure/sunburns, etc. . isn't the culprit.  Seems it most definitely is, along with a certain high risk skin type.

Seems incorrect with all these responses to suggest that sun exposure does not cause skin cancer.  I've read before on this board sometimes where it's suggested intense sun exposure/sunburns, etc. . isn't the culprit.  Seems it most definitely is, along with a certain high risk skin type.

Seems incorrect with all these responses to suggest that sun exposure does not cause skin cancer.  I've read before on this board sometimes where it's suggested intense sun exposure/sunburns, etc. . isn't the culprit.  Seems it most definitely is, along with a certain high risk skin type.

I'm 72 and my melanoma was discovered Stage IV in my lung at age 71, 7 months ago, with unknown primary.  In fact, when it was found I went through the round of doctors to see if they might ferret out a primary–opthamologist, gastroenterologist, podiatrist, and, of course, dermatologist, whom I had been seeing every year for a full body check because of familial melanoma. He said he doubted I had ever had skin melanoma, though at Sloan Kettering they felt that was the most likely scenario.  There is a literature on primary melanoma to the lung, but the doctors I have dealt with, though they cannot rule it out, consider it is probably mythical.

Family history: Mother, stage 1 melanoma at 61, died of lymphoma.  Father and mother lots of skin cancer.  Me, never.  Nephew, sister's boy, died of melanoma at 29, diagnosed Stage 2.  Two first cousins on mother's side, melanoma.  Another first cousin,  a possibly related disease, Ewing's sarcoma, died at 21.  Mother's sister, died of pancreatic cancer at 73.  Genetics folks tell me that may be related, but it would cost me $2000 to see if a gene I carry has familial implications for both melanoma and pancreatic cancer, and it would not help my treatment and family is not interested.  I am a male breast cancer survivor, tested for BRCA gene, which shows genetic tendencies, though I think only toward breast cancer, and is relatively more common in males.  Don't have it.

I'm 72 and my melanoma was discovered Stage IV in my lung at age 71, 7 months ago, with unknown primary.  In fact, when it was found I went through the round of doctors to see if they might ferret out a primary–opthamologist, gastroenterologist, podiatrist, and, of course, dermatologist, whom I had been seeing every year for a full body check because of familial melanoma. He said he doubted I had ever had skin melanoma, though at Sloan Kettering they felt that was the most likely scenario.  There is a literature on primary melanoma to the lung, but the doctors I have dealt with, though they cannot rule it out, consider it is probably mythical.

Family history: Mother, stage 1 melanoma at 61, died of lymphoma.  Father and mother lots of skin cancer.  Me, never.  Nephew, sister's boy, died of melanoma at 29, diagnosed Stage 2.  Two first cousins on mother's side, melanoma.  Another first cousin,  a possibly related disease, Ewing's sarcoma, died at 21.  Mother's sister, died of pancreatic cancer at 73.  Genetics folks tell me that may be related, but it would cost me $2000 to see if a gene I carry has familial implications for both melanoma and pancreatic cancer, and it would not help my treatment and family is not interested.  I am a male breast cancer survivor, tested for BRCA gene, which shows genetic tendencies, though I think only toward breast cancer, and is relatively more common in males.  Don't have it.

I'm 72 and my melanoma was discovered Stage IV in my lung at age 71, 7 months ago, with unknown primary.  In fact, when it was found I went through the round of doctors to see if they might ferret out a primary–opthamologist, gastroenterologist, podiatrist, and, of course, dermatologist, whom I had been seeing every year for a full body check because of familial melanoma. He said he doubted I had ever had skin melanoma, though at Sloan Kettering they felt that was the most likely scenario.  There is a literature on primary melanoma to the lung, but the doctors I have dealt with, though they cannot rule it out, consider it is probably mythical.

Family history: Mother, stage 1 melanoma at 61, died of lymphoma.  Father and mother lots of skin cancer.  Me, never.  Nephew, sister's boy, died of melanoma at 29, diagnosed Stage 2.  Two first cousins on mother's side, melanoma.  Another first cousin,  a possibly related disease, Ewing's sarcoma, died at 21.  Mother's sister, died of pancreatic cancer at 73.  Genetics folks tell me that may be related, but it would cost me $2000 to see if a gene I carry has familial implications for both melanoma and pancreatic cancer, and it would not help my treatment and family is not interested.  I am a male breast cancer survivor, tested for BRCA gene, which shows genetic tendencies, though I think only toward breast cancer, and is relatively more common in males.  Don't have it.

No family history for me.

I fit other risks: Red (more red/blonde) hair, fair skin, long-term corticosteriod patient, intermittent sun exposure in winter (vacations, although I was protected).

I never tanned, stayed in the shade/protected my skin in the sun. One time in 1986, a coworker talked me into going to a tanning salon and I was on the bed for a few seconds and hated the way it made me feel like I was being microwaved, and never went back. 

No family history for me.

I fit other risks: Red (more red/blonde) hair, fair skin, long-term corticosteriod patient, intermittent sun exposure in winter (vacations, although I was protected).

I never tanned, stayed in the shade/protected my skin in the sun. One time in 1986, a coworker talked me into going to a tanning salon and I was on the bed for a few seconds and hated the way it made me feel like I was being microwaved, and never went back. 

No family history for me.

I fit other risks: Red (more red/blonde) hair, fair skin, long-term corticosteriod patient, intermittent sun exposure in winter (vacations, although I was protected).

I never tanned, stayed in the shade/protected my skin in the sun. One time in 1986, a coworker talked me into going to a tanning salon and I was on the bed for a few seconds and hated the way it made me feel like I was being microwaved, and never went back. 

Got burned when teenaged, many years ago, more than once.  No burns or significant sun exposure for the last 20 years.  No melanoma in family, but sister who has an outside job has had several basal cell carcinomas.  Both parents died of cancer, not the same one and not melanoma.  A fair amount of cancer on my mother's side, but some of it was predictable.  Two heavy smoking uncles died of lung cancer.

The current theory about cancer has to do with inflammation causing changes that knock out the function of tumor suppressor genes.  Inflammation is an environmental effect most likely, and could come from infection, any number of chemical or other toxin exposures, etc.  So, maybe you could say that people who have the wrong genetic makeup would be more influenced by those inflammatory events.  But it seems to me that so manymore  people get cancer nowadays, that the genetic component can't explain it all.  Got to be coming more from epigenetic influences.

Here are two articles that explain this inflammation theory.  I found it fascinating because I have a chronic inflammatory disease which may have produced these changes and allowed melanoma to develop.

 

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/33377/title/An-Epi-Phenomenon/

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3220885/

 

I realize this does not help us with our immediate need to get effective treatment, but knowing how cancer develops must surely help at some day.

Got burned when teenaged, many years ago, more than once.  No burns or significant sun exposure for the last 20 years.  No melanoma in family, but sister who has an outside job has had several basal cell carcinomas.  Both parents died of cancer, not the same one and not melanoma.  A fair amount of cancer on my mother's side, but some of it was predictable.  Two heavy smoking uncles died of lung cancer.

The current theory about cancer has to do with inflammation causing changes that knock out the function of tumor suppressor genes.  Inflammation is an environmental effect most likely, and could come from infection, any number of chemical or other toxin exposures, etc.  So, maybe you could say that people who have the wrong genetic makeup would be more influenced by those inflammatory events.  But it seems to me that so manymore  people get cancer nowadays, that the genetic component can't explain it all.  Got to be coming more from epigenetic influences.

Here are two articles that explain this inflammation theory.  I found it fascinating because I have a chronic inflammatory disease which may have produced these changes and allowed melanoma to develop.

 

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/33377/title/An-Epi-Phenomenon/

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3220885/

 

I realize this does not help us with our immediate need to get effective treatment, but knowing how cancer develops must surely help at some day.

Got burned when teenaged, many years ago, more than once.  No burns or significant sun exposure for the last 20 years.  No melanoma in family, but sister who has an outside job has had several basal cell carcinomas.  Both parents died of cancer, not the same one and not melanoma.  A fair amount of cancer on my mother's side, but some of it was predictable.  Two heavy smoking uncles died of lung cancer.

The current theory about cancer has to do with inflammation causing changes that knock out the function of tumor suppressor genes.  Inflammation is an environmental effect most likely, and could come from infection, any number of chemical or other toxin exposures, etc.  So, maybe you could say that people who have the wrong genetic makeup would be more influenced by those inflammatory events.  But it seems to me that so manymore  people get cancer nowadays, that the genetic component can't explain it all.  Got to be coming more from epigenetic influences.

Here are two articles that explain this inflammation theory.  I found it fascinating because I have a chronic inflammatory disease which may have produced these changes and allowed melanoma to develop.

 

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/33377/title/An-Epi-Phenomenon/

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3220885/

 

I realize this does not help us with our immediate need to get effective treatment, but knowing how cancer develops must surely help at some day.

No family history of melanoma.  In my family we tend to be blue eyed and fair skined.  Many of us have the red hair from our Irish descent.  I believe my melanoma was caused by exposure to sunlight during my active outdoor life, especially in the days before sunscreen.  I was never a tanner.

There is a history of Throat cancer in my family in the men.  This was due to many of them being smokers.  Thankfully I am not a smoker!  The women in may family lived very long life and died of old age, not cancer.

Thanks,

MikeWI

stage 2c currently NED

No family history of melanoma.  In my family we tend to be blue eyed and fair skined.  Many of us have the red hair from our Irish descent.  I believe my melanoma was caused by exposure to sunlight during my active outdoor life, especially in the days before sunscreen.  I was never a tanner.

There is a history of Throat cancer in my family in the men.  This was due to many of them being smokers.  Thankfully I am not a smoker!  The women in may family lived very long life and died of old age, not cancer.

Thanks,

MikeWI

stage 2c currently NED

No family history of melanoma.  In my family we tend to be blue eyed and fair skined.  Many of us have the red hair from our Irish descent.  I believe my melanoma was caused by exposure to sunlight during my active outdoor life, especially in the days before sunscreen.  I was never a tanner.

There is a history of Throat cancer in my family in the men.  This was due to many of them being smokers.  Thankfully I am not a smoker!  The women in may family lived very long life and died of old age, not cancer.

Thanks,

MikeWI

stage 2c currently NED

I've always wondered about this myself.  My father and his sister both had minor cases of melanoma that were removed with out-patient surgery and no other treatment.  I assume it was considered in situ.  There is a long history of cancer in my family.  My father died of throat cancer. my maternal grandmother of colon cancer, my Mom is still alive but battling leukemia  I was diagnosed 3 years ago with stage 3C melanoma ans have been stage 4 for 14 months

FrankD Brooklyn

I've always wondered about this myself.  My father and his sister both had minor cases of melanoma that were removed with out-patient surgery and no other treatment.  I assume it was considered in situ.  There is a long history of cancer in my family.  My father died of throat cancer. my maternal grandmother of colon cancer, my Mom is still alive but battling leukemia  I was diagnosed 3 years ago with stage 3C melanoma ans have been stage 4 for 14 months

FrankD Brooklyn

I've always wondered about this myself.  My father and his sister both had minor cases of melanoma that were removed with out-patient surgery and no other treatment.  I assume it was considered in situ.  There is a long history of cancer in my family.  My father died of throat cancer. my maternal grandmother of colon cancer, my Mom is still alive but battling leukemia  I was diagnosed 3 years ago with stage 3C melanoma ans have been stage 4 for 14 months

FrankD Brooklyn

My mother had insitu melanoma with no reocurrence prior to my diagnosis.    She has had lots pre-cancerous spots taken care of by her derm and several Basils removed.   I had a genetic test done to see if I had a certain gene that could be passed on to my children which I don't.  I can not remember what that test was called now. My oncologist recomended it.  My daughter happens to be fair skinned and red hair so I'm always watching her.

Scot

My mother had insitu melanoma with no reocurrence prior to my diagnosis.    She has had lots pre-cancerous spots taken care of by her derm and several Basils removed.   I had a genetic test done to see if I had a certain gene that could be passed on to my children which I don't.  I can not remember what that test was called now. My oncologist recomended it.  My daughter happens to be fair skinned and red hair so I'm always watching her.

Scot

My mother had insitu melanoma with no reocurrence prior to my diagnosis.    She has had lots pre-cancerous spots taken care of by her derm and several Basils removed.   I had a genetic test done to see if I had a certain gene that could be passed on to my children which I don't.  I can not remember what that test was called now. My oncologist recomended it.  My daughter happens to be fair skinned and red hair so I'm always watching her.

Scot

I have family history of other skin cancers, but not melanoma in any immediate family members. I was diagnosed with melanoma in situ last summer (at 18!), and I read an interesting article online about what the study called "familial melanoma." Such a young age at diagnosis definitely suggests a significant genetic component, maybe even a determinant?

 

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/86/18/1385.short  —> interesting article

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/familial-malignant-melanoma  —> the aforementioned study

I have family history of other skin cancers, but not melanoma in any immediate family members. I was diagnosed with melanoma in situ last summer (at 18!), and I read an interesting article online about what the study called "familial melanoma." Such a young age at diagnosis definitely suggests a significant genetic component, maybe even a determinant?

 

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/86/18/1385.short  —> interesting article

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/familial-malignant-melanoma  —> the aforementioned study

I have family history of other skin cancers, but not melanoma in any immediate family members. I was diagnosed with melanoma in situ last summer (at 18!), and I read an interesting article online about what the study called "familial melanoma." Such a young age at diagnosis definitely suggests a significant genetic component, maybe even a determinant?

 

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/86/18/1385.short  —> interesting article

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/familial-malignant-melanoma  —> the aforementioned study

No familial history of melanoma. My younger brother died from esophagal cancer. I am covered in moles, have been sunburned badly a couple of times when I was in my early teens (raised, fluid-filled blisters), and spent a couple of months strolling the beaches ieach year n Jamaica in 2003 – 2005.

My primary was smack dab in the middle of the bald spot on the top of my head, so sun exposure could certainly be a candidate for me.

– Paul.

No familial history of melanoma. My younger brother died from esophagal cancer. I am covered in moles, have been sunburned badly a couple of times when I was in my early teens (raised, fluid-filled blisters), and spent a couple of months strolling the beaches ieach year n Jamaica in 2003 – 2005.

My primary was smack dab in the middle of the bald spot on the top of my head, so sun exposure could certainly be a candidate for me.

– Paul.

No familial history of melanoma. My younger brother died from esophagal cancer. I am covered in moles, have been sunburned badly a couple of times when I was in my early teens (raised, fluid-filled blisters), and spent a couple of months strolling the beaches ieach year n Jamaica in 2003 – 2005.

My primary was smack dab in the middle of the bald spot on the top of my head, so sun exposure could certainly be a candidate for me.

– Paul.

Wow!! This has been fascinating reading, thanks for posting this. I have no history of Melanoma in my family. My father’s side has a lot of cancer. My dad had kidney cancer, he was not expected to survive, they only did surgery to relieve pain from the tumor. He’s 12 years out healthy as ever. His sister had stage 4 colon cancer, was mis-diagnosed for over a year, she had surgery, did one round of chemo, knew that would kill her, went completely alternative and is alive and well 12 years later. Uncle with multiple myeloma just under went stem cell transplant. I guess what I can say, is so far, we are surviving and doing are best to kick cancer’s butt!

I have never been a sun worshiper but am fair with blue eyes. I probably had a sunburn as a kid but nothing I remember.

One thing that I have always found interesting, starting at age 2 to age 4 I received weekly Gamma Globulin injections. My mom said there was something going on with my immune system and this is how it was treated. She doesn’t remember too much other then I would get very sick often and this was the doctor’s treatment. Curious, here I am 45 years later, doctors trying to fire up an immune system response again.

I am not convinced that sun is the only culprit.

Good question!! Thanks again for asking it!

Wow!! This has been fascinating reading, thanks for posting this. I have no history of Melanoma in my family. My father’s side has a lot of cancer. My dad had kidney cancer, he was not expected to survive, they only did surgery to relieve pain from the tumor. He’s 12 years out healthy as ever. His sister had stage 4 colon cancer, was mis-diagnosed for over a year, she had surgery, did one round of chemo, knew that would kill her, went completely alternative and is alive and well 12 years later. Uncle with multiple myeloma just under went stem cell transplant. I guess what I can say, is so far, we are surviving and doing are best to kick cancer’s butt!

I have never been a sun worshiper but am fair with blue eyes. I probably had a sunburn as a kid but nothing I remember.

One thing that I have always found interesting, starting at age 2 to age 4 I received weekly Gamma Globulin injections. My mom said there was something going on with my immune system and this is how it was treated. She doesn’t remember too much other then I would get very sick often and this was the doctor’s treatment. Curious, here I am 45 years later, doctors trying to fire up an immune system response again.

I am not convinced that sun is the only culprit.

Good question!! Thanks again for asking it!

Wow!! This has been fascinating reading, thanks for posting this. I have no history of Melanoma in my family. My father’s side has a lot of cancer. My dad had kidney cancer, he was not expected to survive, they only did surgery to relieve pain from the tumor. He’s 12 years out healthy as ever. His sister had stage 4 colon cancer, was mis-diagnosed for over a year, she had surgery, did one round of chemo, knew that would kill her, went completely alternative and is alive and well 12 years later. Uncle with multiple myeloma just under went stem cell transplant. I guess what I can say, is so far, we are surviving and doing are best to kick cancer’s butt!

I have never been a sun worshiper but am fair with blue eyes. I probably had a sunburn as a kid but nothing I remember.

One thing that I have always found interesting, starting at age 2 to age 4 I received weekly Gamma Globulin injections. My mom said there was something going on with my immune system and this is how it was treated. She doesn’t remember too much other then I would get very sick often and this was the doctor’s treatment. Curious, here I am 45 years later, doctors trying to fire up an immune system response again.

I am not convinced that sun is the only culprit.

Good question!! Thanks again for asking it!