| Moles |
A mole is a benign (not
cancerous) skin tumor. Certain types of moles increase a person’s chance of
getting melanoma. People with lots of moles, and those who have some large
moles, have an increased risk for melanoma. |
| Fair skin |
People with fair skin, freckling,
light hair or blue eyes have a higher risk of melanoma. But anyone can get
melanoma. |
| Family history |
Around 10% of people with
melanoma have a close relative (mother father, brother, sister, child) with
the disease. |
| Immune suppression |
People who have been treated with
medicines that suppress the immune system, such as transplant patients, have
an increased risk of developing melanoma. |
| UV radiation |
Too much exposure to UV radiation
is a risk factor for melanoma. The main source of such radiation is
sunlight. Tanning lamps and booths are another source. |
| Age
Gender |
About half of melanomas occur in
people over the age of 50. But younger people can get melanoma, too. Men
have a higher rate of this cancer than women. |
| Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) |
This is a rare, inherited
condition. People with XP are less able to repair damage caused by sunlight
and are thus at greater risk of melanoma. |
|
Past History of Melanoma
|
A person who has already had
melanoma has a higher risk of getting
another melanoma. |
