Melanoma is a potentially fatal skin disease for which sun exposure (UV irradiation) is an important risk factor. For this reason people with red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, and fair skin that freckles or burns easily are at increased risk. Melanoma is becoming more common in many populations, including the Czechs.
Jana Vranova and coworkers from Charles University have published a study showing that the Czech Republic has one of the highest incidence rates of melanoma in Europe (Malignant melanoma in the Czech Republic: Incidence and mortality according to sex, age and disease stage. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2014 Sep;158(3):438-46. doi: 10.5507/bp.2012.081).
According to this source, the rate continues to rise faster than that of any other cancer. Despite improved survival rates, the death rate from melanoma continues to climb as a result of exponential increases in incidence. The authors conclude that primary and secondary prevention campaigns are essential for future reductions in melanoma incidence and mortality in the Czech Republic.
The general recommendations for risk reduction are:
- Have regular skin exams by a dermatologist
- Thoroughly examine their own skin once a month
- Be particularly careful about sun protection and avoiding manmade UV rays (such as those from tanning beds)
Family history is another risk factor of melanoma. The risk is higher if one or more of the person’s first-degree relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, or children) has had melanoma. Around 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of the disease. Anyone who has a family member with melanoma should consider his own risk. Mutations in some known genes predispose to melanoma. For familial melanoma clinical counseling is important. Also how the recommendations should be given need to consider the family history in addition to the mutation analysis results, as discussed in the article by Kari Hemminki, the ERA Chair:
Informing patients about their mutation tests: CDKN2A c.256G>A in melanoma as an example. Hemminki K, Srivastava A, Rachakonda S, Bandapalli O, Nagore E, Hemminki A, Kumar R. Hered Cancer Clin Pract. 2020 Jul 31;18:15. doi: 10.1186/s13053-020-00146-x.