I came across this article today and there is a list on the bottom that shows risk factors for melanoma. There are a few that surprised me.
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170523/Melanoma-could-affect-anyone-regardless-of-skin-color.aspx
“According to the Rush Department of Dermatology, a variety of physical, historical, and genetic traits increase the risk for developing melanoma, including the following:
Having a mole present within the first two weeks of life (a birth mole) (10-fold increased risk)
Having a personal history of melanoma (nine-fold increased risk)
Having a family history of melanoma (eight-fold increased risk)
Having numerous moles and/or atypical moles (eight-fold to 40-fold increased risk)
Having had a Spitz tumor removed (eight-fold increased risk)
Having had an atypical nevus removed (seven-fold increased risk)
Having had at least 2 moles removed in the past (five-fold increased risk)
Prior treatment for psoriasis with more than 200 PUVA treatments (psoralen pills and ultraviolet A radiation) (five-fold increased risk)
Having had a basal cell cancer or squamous cell cancer (four-fold increased risk)
Presence of dense sun-induced freckles (three-fold increased risk)
Immune suppression related to disease or medication (three-fold increased risk)
Having red hair (two-fold increased risk)
Having Parkinson disease (two-fold increased risk)
Multiple sunburns in early childhood (two-fold increased risk)”
The first thing they asked me when I was diagnosed was about sunburns. I know I haven’t had many sunburns in my life, in fact I tan quite easily. This is the first time I read something that agreed with my thoughts on the matter.
.
