Skin cancer is a common form of cancer for people that expose their skin to the sun often. It can be readily treated if picked up quickly enough through screening sessions or personal inspection of the body for any moles, other skin blemishes or changes in existing marks on the skin. However preventing skin cancer from ever occurring is a far better approach. And prevention is far more successful if people are aware of the risk factors that make them more susceptible to the disease. This article will detail how a family history of skin cancer is a major risk factor for skin cancer in a person. 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. Even so, if you are fortunate enough not to have a family history of skin cancer then don't think that you can treat your skin poorly and dismiss skin cancer. It is one of the most common cancers in the world today and is increasing at a rapid rate. Everybody should be alert when it comes to skin cancer. General advice is to have an annual screening for any moles or marks on the skin. Better still you should examine your body regularly and see your doctor if you find new moles or existing ones changing shape or color. Cancer is no different to many diseases in that the genes of a person can predispose them to it. A family history of skin cancer will increase the chances of getting the disease. It is thought that there is a one in ten chance of getting a melanoma (the worst form of skin cancer) if one of your family have already had it. And the odds increase the closer in the family that person is to you. Thus if your mother or father had a melanoma then the chances increase by 50% that you may get a melanoma. Thus if your health care provider becomes aware of this situation they will advise you to take extra preventative steps against skin cancer and be more diligent in monitoring any marks on your skin. They will also suggest a regular screening session. Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma Syndrome (FAMMM) is another condition that health professionals take notice of in family members. People with this syndrome typical have dark brown to black moles on their body. Although they are not cancerous they may change their size, shape and color and this could be a precursor that they will become malignant. 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. Apart from a family history of skin cancer there are other factors that predispose you to skin cancer. These include fair skin or skin with plenty of freckles. People that spend too much time in the sun are also at risk. People that use sun beds too much are also at risk. Becoming aware of the factors that increase your risk of getting skin cancer is the first step towards preventing the disease.
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