Skin Cancer

Studies suggest that melanoma and other skin cancers can be hereditary.  Has anyone else in your family been diagnosed?  Does this change your idea of how you might be able to reduce your risk?

In one study *Dr. Shehnaz K. Hussain of the University of California Los Angeles and colleagues looked at the Swedish Family-Cancer Database to gauge the risk for several types of skin cancer among siblings and children of people diagnosed with these diseases.

They found that people with a sibling or parent diagnosed with some types of skin cancer were more likely to develop skin cancers of various types, not just the ones their relatives had. When tumors occurred at parts of the body more likely to have been exposed to the sun (such as the face, compared to the torso), the familial risk was stronger.*

Read more here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33266930

This is tough to read since my ex's father died of skin cancer. They were all living in tropical countries then, and doing all sorts of outdoor activities all the time. They are now very careful (well, his mom is as well as his sisters, but ex sometimes has to be given The Look).

As far as I know no one in my family has ever had skin cancer. Praise GOD!

DH has had prostate cancer, one Grandmother and one Grandfather had cancer of unidentified origin, and a maternal aunt had color cancer. And we have two very good friends who have been diagnosed with melanoma (eaerly, luckily).

But no skin cancers in the family, knock on wood.