Melanoma is a form of cancer that develops from the pigment producing cells of the skin. If untreated it can spread through the body and is potentially fatal.

In many parts of the world melanoma is becoming more common. However, it is still unusual to have more than one case of melanoma in a single family. When more than one person in a family has a melanoma, there might be something ‘running in the family’. That ‘something’ could mean other family members are more likely to get a melanoma than people outside the family.

The following information is for people who suspect that their family carries an increased risk of melanoma. It is also for people who have been told that they have such an increased risk.

Words in bold are defined in the Glossary at the bottom of this page.

There is a detailed CD-Rom/DVD called “Melanoma – Dealing with the diagnosis”. This was produced by Professor Newton Bishop, and colleagues from St James’s University Hospital in Leeds and from Bradford Royal Infirmary. The presentation contains text about melanoma, its diagnosis and treatment.

The information in this booklet is about dealing with melanoma, and is intended for patients who have recently been diagnosed with melanoma, and their families. This booklet contains written information, illustrations and photographs.

To download and view the PDF online version please click here.

We know of four genes where mutations (changes or faults in our genes) can increase the chances of developing a melanoma. GenoMEL, the Melanoma Genetics Consortium, is doing further research in this area and more may be discovered in the future.

The most common gene is CDKN2A; it produces a protein called p16. Families carrying mutations in this gene have been discovered in Europe, the USA and Australia. In most ‘CDKN2A families’ in the UK, carrying the mutant gene appears only to increase the risk of melanoma. In the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA however, there also appears to be an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

The more cases of melanoma there are in the family, the greater the likelihood that the family carries a high-risk mutation such as CDKN2A. Most of the families that we know possess a CDKN2A mutation have more than two cases of melanoma.

Gene Testing click here to view this section

Page updated: 23/10/07