Melanoma in situ with no familial history

There is so much more to be learned as far as why someone gets melanoma. It isn't as cut and dry as "sun exposure" and "fair skin". I think there may be studies looking into those that have gotten melanoma and have not had much to do with sunlight and are not fair skinned, but not sure if there is a lot of info at the moment. I happen to be that stereotypical pale redhead, but I never had bad sunburns (due to parents being very careful with their little pale girl in the sunlight) and no family history. My derm told me something about the gene that creates red hair has some weird mutation that makes redheads at a higher risk than others even if we've never seen the sun. Hopefully in the near future we know a bit more about the hows and whys of melanoma development. 

There is so much more to be learned as far as why someone gets melanoma. It isn't as cut and dry as "sun exposure" and "fair skin". I think there may be studies looking into those that have gotten melanoma and have not had much to do with sunlight and are not fair skinned, but not sure if there is a lot of info at the moment. I happen to be that stereotypical pale redhead, but I never had bad sunburns (due to parents being very careful with their little pale girl in the sunlight) and no family history. My derm told me something about the gene that creates red hair has some weird mutation that makes redheads at a higher risk than others even if we've never seen the sun. Hopefully in the near future we know a bit more about the hows and whys of melanoma development. 

There is so much more to be learned as far as why someone gets melanoma. It isn't as cut and dry as "sun exposure" and "fair skin". I think there may be studies looking into those that have gotten melanoma and have not had much to do with sunlight and are not fair skinned, but not sure if there is a lot of info at the moment. I happen to be that stereotypical pale redhead, but I never had bad sunburns (due to parents being very careful with their little pale girl in the sunlight) and no family history. My derm told me something about the gene that creates red hair has some weird mutation that makes redheads at a higher risk than others even if we've never seen the sun. Hopefully in the near future we know a bit more about the hows and whys of melanoma development. 

GeminiBird,

So, I'm the first in my family to get melanoma (as least as far as I know).  I did play sports as a kid and was outdoors a lot but I did not spent a lot of time laying out or working on a tan.  It's was a big shock.  A few years ago I even asked a dermatologist about my spot that ended up being melanoma and he was not concerned.  Mine was not where the sun shines on my stomach.  I think I wore a two piece half a dozen times in my life.

Fortunately they found your melanoma insitu so you have already taken huge steps to watch closely for changes.  I'm in a similar boat.  They found mine somewhat early (but they could have caught it earlier) and everything that has been removed since then (all but one) were mildly atypical.  My sister does not have moles.  My mom does not either.  

Also, I have been told that this is an excellent time to have this disease if you have to have it because technology is making major strides to better understand the disease and determine many of the 'why's' in cases like ours.

GeminiBird,

So, I'm the first in my family to get melanoma (as least as far as I know).  I did play sports as a kid and was outdoors a lot but I did not spent a lot of time laying out or working on a tan.  It's was a big shock.  A few years ago I even asked a dermatologist about my spot that ended up being melanoma and he was not concerned.  Mine was not where the sun shines on my stomach.  I think I wore a two piece half a dozen times in my life.

Fortunately they found your melanoma insitu so you have already taken huge steps to watch closely for changes.  I'm in a similar boat.  They found mine somewhat early (but they could have caught it earlier) and everything that has been removed since then (all but one) were mildly atypical.  My sister does not have moles.  My mom does not either.  

Also, I have been told that this is an excellent time to have this disease if you have to have it because technology is making major strides to better understand the disease and determine many of the 'why's' in cases like ours.

GeminiBird,

So, I'm the first in my family to get melanoma (as least as far as I know).  I did play sports as a kid and was outdoors a lot but I did not spent a lot of time laying out or working on a tan.  It's was a big shock.  A few years ago I even asked a dermatologist about my spot that ended up being melanoma and he was not concerned.  Mine was not where the sun shines on my stomach.  I think I wore a two piece half a dozen times in my life.

Fortunately they found your melanoma insitu so you have already taken huge steps to watch closely for changes.  I'm in a similar boat.  They found mine somewhat early (but they could have caught it earlier) and everything that has been removed since then (all but one) were mildly atypical.  My sister does not have moles.  My mom does not either.  

Also, I have been told that this is an excellent time to have this disease if you have to have it because technology is making major strides to better understand the disease and determine many of the 'why's' in cases like ours.