Family history
Sun exposure is the cause of most skin cancer. Less than 5% of all melanomas can be explained by an inherited gene.
Risk factors for family skin cancer include:
- a personal history of melanoma at an early age; the average age to be diagnosed with melanoma is 33 years
- a personal history of more than one melanoma
- many moles on your skin; more than 10 on the arms and 200 on the body
- many unusual moles
- a blood relative diagnosed with melanoma at an early age
- a blood relative diagnosed with more than one melanoma
- a blood relative diagnosed with melanoma of the eye
- pancreatic cancer in more than one family member.
Further information about family cancer is available on the Victorian Family Cancer Genetics Service website. If you are worried about your risk of melanoma based on your family history, contact your doctor, or call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
Also refer to:
- Skin spots to watch or see a doctor about for more information about the warning signs of damaged skin and an increased risk of skin cancer, and unusual spots or moles that could be skin cancer
