The information leaflet on this page is intended for people who have been offered a genetic test to look for inherited changes (variants) in a group of genes that may explain why they have developed a Melanoma, or a type of mole called an atypical mole.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes. These cells make melanin, which gives skin its colour. In the UK, about 1 in 35 men and 1 in 41 women will get melanoma at some point in their lives.
The chance of getting melanoma depends on many things, like age, family history, and exposure to sunlight (UV radiation). For most people, cancer happens by chance. However, about 1 in 10 people with melanoma have a close relative (parent, sibling, or grandparent) who also had melanoma. This is called familial melanoma.