Family History
Melanoma and other forms of skin cancer can spread in families. Observations indicate that one in ten patients diagnosed with melanoma has a family history of skin disease. If any close relatives have melanoma, a person’s likelihood of developing skin cancer is significantly increased compared to those without a family history. Individuals with first-degree relatives are more likely to develop skin cancer. Therefore, when melanoma is diagnosed in a patient, close relatives are screened for the disease.
10 to 15% of skin cancer patients have a close relative with the disease. This could be the result of gene mutation or DNA-induced alterations to the tumor suppressor gene.
