Emily
Emily was diagnosed with melanoma at age 26. After her diagnosis,
she learned that several other relatives (her paternal uncle, her
paternal aunt and her paternal grandfather) had been diagnosed with
melanoma. Emily decided to have genetic testing and was found to
have a mutation in the p16 gene. Emily says, "education
about hereditary melanoma and genetic testing changed my life. Even
after my cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery, I thought my
cancer was just a fluke. My genetic test results explained why I
got cancer and allowed me to make decisions to prevent a second
cancer. I have taken control of my health. I avoid the sun and I
see my dermatologist regularly. Genetic education and testing gave
me the tools to live better and protect my health - what gift could
be better than that!"
Emily's decision to have genetic testing impacted her family members. Emily's sister had genetic testing and was found not to have the p16 mutation seen in the family. Emily's sister now knows that her risk of developing melanoma is the same as that of the general population (~2%) instead of significantly increased like for those individuals with a p16 mutation.
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A genetic test for hereditary melanoma
