Genes

The other skin cancers, yes.  And if you have one of the genetic defects for melanoma (~10%), you may have a predisoposition for other cancers.  For the defect I have (CDKN2A), I was given between an 11-17% chance of having pancreatic cancer.  (76% lifetime risk of melanoma)..  Other cancers were also listed but the data wasn't mature enough to give me good info.  (I have the list stashed somewhere but don't remember the other possibilities – except I don't believe BC was one listed for my particular defect).   The numbers might have changed some since this was over ten years ago and they likely have more info now.  So if you have a genetic default that put you at high risk for melanoma, it is possible that other cancers also carry a higher risk.  But if you don't have a genetic defect identified, then your melanoma diagnosis likely doesn't play any roll in other cancers. 

The other skin cancers, yes.  And if you have one of the genetic defects for melanoma (~10%), you may have a predisoposition for other cancers.  For the defect I have (CDKN2A), I was given between an 11-17% chance of having pancreatic cancer.  (76% lifetime risk of melanoma)..  Other cancers were also listed but the data wasn't mature enough to give me good info.  (I have the list stashed somewhere but don't remember the other possibilities – except I don't believe BC was one listed for my particular defect).   The numbers might have changed some since this was over ten years ago and they likely have more info now.  So if you have a genetic default that put you at high risk for melanoma, it is possible that other cancers also carry a higher risk.  But if you don't have a genetic defect identified, then your melanoma diagnosis likely doesn't play any roll in other cancers. 

The other skin cancers, yes.  And if you have one of the genetic defects for melanoma (~10%), you may have a predisoposition for other cancers.  For the defect I have (CDKN2A), I was given between an 11-17% chance of having pancreatic cancer.  (76% lifetime risk of melanoma)..  Other cancers were also listed but the data wasn't mature enough to give me good info.  (I have the list stashed somewhere but don't remember the other possibilities – except I don't believe BC was one listed for my particular defect).   The numbers might have changed some since this was over ten years ago and they likely have more info now.  So if you have a genetic default that put you at high risk for melanoma, it is possible that other cancers also carry a higher risk.  But if you don't have a genetic defect identified, then your melanoma diagnosis likely doesn't play any roll in other cancers. 

My mother's oncologist shared with us that melanoma may be highly linked to breast cancer and she tested my mom for breast cancer genes after her melanoma diagnosis. My mother also had a sister who died from breast cancer when they were younger so she has a family history of breast cancer.  I'm not sure what studies are out there that prove relationship but there might be a link. 

My mother's oncologist shared with us that melanoma may be highly linked to breast cancer and she tested my mom for breast cancer genes after her melanoma diagnosis. My mother also had a sister who died from breast cancer when they were younger so she has a family history of breast cancer.  I'm not sure what studies are out there that prove relationship but there might be a link. 

My mother's oncologist shared with us that melanoma may be highly linked to breast cancer and she tested my mom for breast cancer genes after her melanoma diagnosis. My mother also had a sister who died from breast cancer when they were younger so she has a family history of breast cancer.  I'm not sure what studies are out there that prove relationship but there might be a link.