Risk Factors For Skin Cancer - Your Family History

Skin cancer is one of the more common forms of cancer that people can get. It is generally treatable too, if caught early enough. This means that it is important to inspect your skin and get annual skin cancer screening sessions from your health care professional. Of course a better way to deal with skin cancer is to prevent it ever happening to you. A good way to do this is to understand the risk factors for skin cancer and modifying your exposure to things that will cause the disease.  This article will cover how a family history of skin cancer is a important risk factor for skin cancer and how it should influence how you care for your skin.

To give this a point of reference, risk factors do not prove one way or the other that you will get skin cancer but they can certainly inform you on how to care for your skin and what may happen if you don't take skin care seriously.

Having said this, just because you may not have a family history of skin cancer does not mean that you can have carte blanche with your skin care. Everyone must be vigilant when it comes to skin cancer. It is one of the most common forms of cancer and is increasing at a faster rate than many other types. Annual screenings are a good idea for everyone and are an important tool in skin cancer prevention. Checking your skin for new moles or blemishes is also an important diagnostic tool.

As with many diseases and conditions, a family history of skin cancer does increase your chances of getting the disease. Statistics suggest that there is a one in ten chance of getting a melanoma if a family member has ever had it before. The odds of this happening are thought to increase the closer the family member is. So a first degree relative like a mother, father, sister or brother that has had a melanoma increases th chance of getting the disease by 50%. The consequence of this is that anyone that is diagnosed with a melanoma will be advised by their doctor to make the relatives get regular skin cancer screening sessions.

Another hereditary link that health care professionals look out for is referred to as the Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma Syndrome (FAMMM). Some skin types will have numerous moles on them. They may be irregular in size and shape. They may vary in color from black to brown to lighter shades. These skin types are more susceptible to developing skin cancer.

This means that you are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer if any of your family have these types of moles on their skin. You may even have moles on your skin too or notice that they are appearing more as you get older. If this is the case your doctor will ask you to watch the moles carefully for any changes. They will also advise that you get screened for any skin blemishes or marks by a professional at least once a year.

Having fair skin or skin with lots of freckles is also a risk factor to getting skin cancer. Spending too much time in the sun or on a sun bed are activities that can put you at risk. These factors and a family history of skin cancer can increase your chances of getting the disease. If you are aware of this information then you are better prepared to prevent the disease from affecting you.

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