Familial melanoma - does anyone have any experience of this?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

It's killed my uncle, my grandmother, my cousin. My aunt has it and has been given two years to live, if she is lucky. My mother had it and has just past the five years mark, so is hopefully OK, but she is checked every month.

I told my doctor and he had a cursory glance at my moles (I am like a Dalmatian) and just said "Oh they look fine to me." and seemed very uninterested about my family history.

I've read up a bit about it on the internet, and if you are ginger (which most of my relatives are) then you are at higher risk of familial melanoma. I'm dark, so fingers crossed, I'll be OK. But given that my uncle, grandmother and cousin all live in the same area and were under the same hospital, and have same unusual surname, I wonder why no-one has picked this up to have a look at more closely?

My Dad & I have both survived melanoma (to date!). Fortunately, probably for both of us, he was a pathologist so was aware of early signs & his knowledge rubbed off on me, hence me being diagnosed fairly early on too.

It has never been suggested as being genetic, though I thought it could well be linked.

I do keep a close eye on my DC but they are much darker skinned than I am so I hope they will be spared.

As there is even more of a genetic line in your family, I think I would perhaps see another doctor to see whether any form of genetic testing might help, or alternatively a referral to a dermatologist who will undoubtedly be more thorough & reassuring.

I hope you get some answers that can help you.

Agree with demolition. We don't have any family trait but I have asked the GP to look at DD1 who has a few large moles (generally invisible as they are on her scalp). He did so but freely admitted that the UK is not in the forefront of 'mole awareness' - maybe your GP too. I would ask for a referral and maybe ask about 'mapping' where they take baseline measurements etc to monitor.

Thanks - I am now living in Paris (was a UK doctor who was uninterested) so will see if my GP here can refer me to a dermatologist.

You don't have to be referred, just make an appointment(I'm in Paris, too).I saw one few years ago and she was very thorough, looked at my whole body with the dermoscope etc. I'm like you, hundreds of moles, and get 10 new ones every year.
I think with your family history, you should go, get checked and then go once a year or whatever the dermatologist will say.

Winnybella - thanks, that's helpful to know that I don't need to be referred.

No, but I want to wish you the best of luck and that you never have to worry about it beyond being vigilant.
I have just lost a very close friend to it and it is a horrid thing to witness and doubtless, to experience.
You would be wise to have annual checks if not 6 monthly, and to have your moles mapped by an experienced derm. You can always take photos yourself and get DH to take them in awkward places! Then watch for any changes.

But I think an annual check is the way to go.

I think the one I saw was Marie Serre in the 8th- if you search through PagesJaunes for a dermatologue you'll find her. I think they're all good though. I'll be making an appointment, too, as I haven't been except this one time few years ago.

Dominique Lehucher-Ceyrac in the 17th is a very good dermatologist.