Melanoma connection to sun exposure or not? (see CDC report)

Genetics and the sun both play a role.

Genetics and the sun both play a role.

Genetics and the sun both play a role.

Actually, most doctors do thing melanoma is tied to sun exposure.  Sun has been highly IMPLICATED, but not proven.  Although I did see a study last year, I think, that did give a causal relationship.  I'll have to see if I can find that for a reread.  It is thought that the DNA damage might be systemic as opposed to site specific which might explain some locations.  There certainly are types that aren't sun related. Chemical exposure can also cause DNA damage and maybe other environmental factors.  I have a genetic defect that gave me a 76% lifetime risk.  I've had my share of burns.  For me, I figure the sun isn't the big factor for me.  My fate was sealed with genetics and possibly a simple burn or two.  Who knows.   The relationship between increased sun exposure for caucasian individuals and the increase in melanoma is pretty hard to ignore, and the majority of melanomas are on sun exposed areas.  Women, the legs are most common.  Men, the trunk.  Almost every derm out there will counsel a melanoma patient to be sun aware.  Of course, by then, the horse is already out of the barn.  The time to be more sun smart is before you have any type of skin cancer.  People who already have one of the other type of skin cancers have an increased risk for melanoma. 

Actually, most doctors do thing melanoma is tied to sun exposure.  Sun has been highly IMPLICATED, but not proven.  Although I did see a study last year, I think, that did give a causal relationship.  I'll have to see if I can find that for a reread.  It is thought that the DNA damage might be systemic as opposed to site specific which might explain some locations.  There certainly are types that aren't sun related. Chemical exposure can also cause DNA damage and maybe other environmental factors.  I have a genetic defect that gave me a 76% lifetime risk.  I've had my share of burns.  For me, I figure the sun isn't the big factor for me.  My fate was sealed with genetics and possibly a simple burn or two.  Who knows.   The relationship between increased sun exposure for caucasian individuals and the increase in melanoma is pretty hard to ignore, and the majority of melanomas are on sun exposed areas.  Women, the legs are most common.  Men, the trunk.  Almost every derm out there will counsel a melanoma patient to be sun aware.  Of course, by then, the horse is already out of the barn.  The time to be more sun smart is before you have any type of skin cancer.  People who already have one of the other type of skin cancers have an increased risk for melanoma. 

Actually, most doctors do thing melanoma is tied to sun exposure.  Sun has been highly IMPLICATED, but not proven.  Although I did see a study last year, I think, that did give a causal relationship.  I'll have to see if I can find that for a reread.  It is thought that the DNA damage might be systemic as opposed to site specific which might explain some locations.  There certainly are types that aren't sun related. Chemical exposure can also cause DNA damage and maybe other environmental factors.  I have a genetic defect that gave me a 76% lifetime risk.  I've had my share of burns.  For me, I figure the sun isn't the big factor for me.  My fate was sealed with genetics and possibly a simple burn or two.  Who knows.   The relationship between increased sun exposure for caucasian individuals and the increase in melanoma is pretty hard to ignore, and the majority of melanomas are on sun exposed areas.  Women, the legs are most common.  Men, the trunk.  Almost every derm out there will counsel a melanoma patient to be sun aware.  Of course, by then, the horse is already out of the barn.  The time to be more sun smart is before you have any type of skin cancer.  People who already have one of the other type of skin cancers have an increased risk for melanoma.