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tattoos a risk factor?
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tattoos a risk factor?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › tattoos a risk factor?

  • Post
    • January 9, 2015 at 8:49 pm
    scalp MM 2014
    Participant

      Good day to all of you and your loved ones fighting the battle! I have a question I hope someone may know an answer to.  Does having a tattoo increase risk of getting Melanoma? Curious because both my cousin and I got tattooed the same day. She died from Melanoma and I am now battling Melanoma. To be fair, we also both grew up sunburning on the beautiful beaches of Southern California which I know is most likely the contributing factor or even a genetic possiblitly. Thank you ahead for any replies or knowlege about this.

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        • January 9, 2015 at 9:59 pm
        Tim–MRF
        Guest

          I am sorry to hear about your sister, and that you are currently battling melanoma. I suspect, though, that skin type and UV exposure were much bigger factors than the tattoo. 

          Doctors have looked at this issue for some time, and to my knowledge no link between melanoma and tattoos has ever been proven.

          Having said that, tattoos can hide a melanoma and make skin checks more difficult. 

          I think everyone who is diagnosed with cancer asks the big question, "Why did this happen?" This is perfectly normal but, in reality, not very useful. Regardless of what caused the melanoma–skin type, genetics, UV exposure, or anything else–you now are dealing with it and must move forward. Some things we simply will never know, such as why one person develops melanoma and another with the same set of risk factors does not.

          Tim–MRF

           

           

           

          • January 9, 2015 at 9:59 pm
          Tim–MRF
          Guest

            I am sorry to hear about your sister, and that you are currently battling melanoma. I suspect, though, that skin type and UV exposure were much bigger factors than the tattoo. 

            Doctors have looked at this issue for some time, and to my knowledge no link between melanoma and tattoos has ever been proven.

            Having said that, tattoos can hide a melanoma and make skin checks more difficult. 

            I think everyone who is diagnosed with cancer asks the big question, "Why did this happen?" This is perfectly normal but, in reality, not very useful. Regardless of what caused the melanoma–skin type, genetics, UV exposure, or anything else–you now are dealing with it and must move forward. Some things we simply will never know, such as why one person develops melanoma and another with the same set of risk factors does not.

            Tim–MRF

             

             

             

              • January 10, 2015 at 2:30 am
              scalp MM 2014
              Participant

                Thank you Tim. Good reminder to check the skin under tattoos as well.

                • January 10, 2015 at 2:30 am
                scalp MM 2014
                Participant

                  Thank you Tim. Good reminder to check the skin under tattoos as well.

                  • January 10, 2015 at 2:30 am
                  scalp MM 2014
                  Participant

                    Thank you Tim. Good reminder to check the skin under tattoos as well.

                  • January 9, 2015 at 9:59 pm
                  Tim–MRF
                  Guest

                    I am sorry to hear about your sister, and that you are currently battling melanoma. I suspect, though, that skin type and UV exposure were much bigger factors than the tattoo. 

                    Doctors have looked at this issue for some time, and to my knowledge no link between melanoma and tattoos has ever been proven.

                    Having said that, tattoos can hide a melanoma and make skin checks more difficult. 

                    I think everyone who is diagnosed with cancer asks the big question, "Why did this happen?" This is perfectly normal but, in reality, not very useful. Regardless of what caused the melanoma–skin type, genetics, UV exposure, or anything else–you now are dealing with it and must move forward. Some things we simply will never know, such as why one person develops melanoma and another with the same set of risk factors does not.

                    Tim–MRF

                     

                     

                     

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