? higher risk for melanoma, does anyone know?

[linda504]

My 19 year old son recently had surgery to remove melanoma from his face as well as a sentinel node biopsy, which were negative. Now my 16 year old daughter had a "blue nevi" removed from her arm and now she had a moderate atypical mole removed from her back. She is fair skinned, her paternal uncle died of melanoma when he was only 40 and her brother has melanoma. Does this increase her risk of developing melanoma? Thank you

[Pum]

Unfortunately her risk is raised. Sorry to hear about your son. Regular checks should go a long way towards picking anything up in the early stages.

Take care.

[ChitChatNine]

Hi,

I agree with Pum and wanted to add that I had 10 yrs' worth of atypical dysplastic nevi when my first and only early melanoma appeared.  I go every 6 mos for checkups and check my back every time of the month as a reminder to look in the mirror!  I have no familial connection to melanoma and the Dr's are amazed given the extensive am't of dysplastic nevi I have all over.  My Melanoma was removed '07 and all clear since then.

Early detection is key.

C~

[linda504]

thank you for commenting, I have 2 other kids who have appointments with the dermotologist coming up, both again have many freckles and moles. My son's melanoma was on his face between his eye and temple and the freckle grew and turned black very quickly, it was just over early detection. He had to heave a large skin graft and sentinal node biopsys done. 3 nodes were negative but 2 had "nevic, mole cells" in them.I'm concerned these mole cells will turn into melanoma & we won't be able to see them. The doctor doesn't think so, but I still think they should remove the rest of the lymph nodes, I don't want to take any chances. Have you ever heard of this?  Thanks