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.

Anyone can develop a melanoma but our chances of doing so depend on our biological nature, where we live and how we live our lives.

People with ‘fair’ skin and a tendency to freckle have a higher natural risk of melanoma.
People who live in a sunny country have a higher environmental risk of melanoma.
People who chose to sunbathe may have a higher lifestyle risk of melanoma.

We must look at the level of natural risk to judge if other family members are at increased risk of melanoma. (‘Increased risk’ when compared to people who do not have a family history of melanoma).

Our natural risk depends on our genes – the instructions that our bodies use to grow and repair themselves.

To decide the risk to family members, doctors look for signs of high-risk genes within the family.

Those signs are:
More than one case of melanoma within a family.
The more cases of melanoma the more likely there will be a high-risk gene in that family. However, more than one case might occur by chance alone or because the family live somewhere with a high environmental risk (somewhere sunny like Australia).

More than one case of melanoma in a single family member.
When a person develops more than one melanoma they may have a high-risk gene.

Melanoma occurring earlier than usual.
Most cases of melanoma are in people aged 50 or older. When melanomas develop in younger people it may be due to high-risk genes.

Page updated: 12/02/08