Genetic Counseling and Cancer Risk Assessment If any of the following apply to you, talk to your doctor about genetic counseling.
- Three or more separate melanomas in the same person
- Two separate melanomas in the same person and one or more close relatives with melanoma
- Three or more close relatives with melanoma
- Melanoma and pancreatic cancer in the same person or in close relatives
Approximately 5 to 10 percent of melanoma is due to genetic or hereditary causes. Researchers have identified a handful of genes that when altered (or mutated) predispose to melanoma. Genetic testing is clinically available and indicated when any of the above criteria are met. Please contact the St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Genetics Program at (714) 734-6229 or click here for more information about genetic counseling and cancer risk assessment.