The WAM Foundation - War Against Melanoma

Dysplastic nevi: Dysplastic nevi are more likely than ordinary moles to become
cancerous. Dysplastic nevi are common, and many people have a few of these abnormal
moles. The risk of melanoma is greatest for people who have a large number of
dysplastic nevi. The risk is especially high for people with a family history of both
dysplastic nevi and melanoma.

Fair skin: Melanoma occurs more frequently in people who have fair skin that burns or
freckles easily (these people also usually have red or blond hair and blue eyes) than in
people with dark skin.

Personal history of melanoma or skin cancer: People who have been treated for
melanoma have a high risk of a second melanoma. Some people develop more than two
melanomas. People who had one or more of the common skin cancers (basal cell
carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) are at increased risk of melanoma.

Family history of melanoma: Melanoma sometimes runs in families. Having two or more
close relatives who have had this disease is a risk factor. About 10 percent of all patients
with melanoma have a family member with this disease. When melanoma runs in a
family, all family members should be checked regularly by a doctor.

(See Prevention)

Information provided by the National Cancer Institute, The Skin Cancer Foundation,
and the Melanoma Research Foundation. For more detailed information go to:

National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma
The Skin Cancer Foundation - http://www.skincancer.org
Melanoma Research Foundation - http://www.melanoma.org

Disclaimer:
The material contained on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended and should not
construed to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should not rely on any
information contained on this site as a substitute for medical advice and always seek the advice of your physician or other
qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.

No one knows the exact causes of melanoma. Doctors can seldom explain
why one person
gets melanoma and another does not. However, research has shown that
people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop
melanoma. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of
developing a disease. Still, many who do get this disease have no known risk
factors.