Someone who has many moles is more likely to develop melanoma.
People with fair skin that freckles or burns easily are at increased risk.
About 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of the disease. Risk of melanoma is higher if one or more of your first-degree relatives has had melanoma.
Skin cancer is a preventable disease and the majority of skin cancers can be successfully treated, if found early. Be familiar with your skin and aware of any changes or any suspicious lumps or spots. Don’t just rely on an annual skin check.
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SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html, 2019.
Kentucky Cancer Registry. Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Kentucky, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 2014.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures, 2019. Atlanta GA.
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Hu S, Parmet Y, Allen G, Parker D F, Ma F, Rouhani P, and Kirsner R S Disparity in Melanoma. Arch. Dermatol. 145:12, 1369-1374, 2009.
Tomba R. Skin Cancer: Nine things to know to lower your risk. https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2015/07/9-things-to-lower-skin-cancer-risk.html, 2015.
Hadmin F. Skin Cancer Prevention. National Center for Farmer Health. https://www.farmerhealth.org.au/page/health-centre/skin-cancer-prevention, 2017.
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