Hereditary Skin Cancer

by Jean
(Morristown, AZ, USA)

I believe there is a definite hereditary genetic component to Skin Cancer.

Both my parents had extensive skin cancers on their faces, backs and hands.

Everyone in my family has fair skin – our ancestry is most likely Scots-Irish, a group that is most likely to have skin cancers.

All of our skin cancers have been Basal Cell Skin Cancer. One of mine was labeled a sclerosing basal cell. All were removed either by liquid nitrogen or by surgery.

My Mother and I now see a dermatologist every six months. Invariably, we always have new skin cancers, although we follow all the recommended procedures to avoid getting them which includes:

> Use of the best sunscreen
> Wearing sun protection hat
> Wearing long-sleeved sun protective shirts
> and just not being in direct sunlight during the midday sun.

My Mother learned to drive at the age of twelve so that she could drive her Mother over the mountains to a dermatologist who could remove the skin cancers on her hands.

In doing genealogy research I found a fascinating bill from 1822 from a healer to the estate of my great-great-great-great grandfather for the cost of curing a cancer on the hand of his daughter.

So I definitely feel that there is some hereditary component that has passed down in every generation of our family.

Nose Skin Cancer

Sign of Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer and Tanning Beds

Skin Cancer Awareness

Skin Cancer Awareness Month