Skin cancer risk discussions in melanoma-affected families.
BACKGROUND
First-degree relatives (FDRs) of melanoma patients are at increased melanoma risk and thus represent an important target for prevention education. Family skin cancer risk discussions may be a useful education context.


METHODS
We assessed melanoma patients' (N = 115) self-reported family skin cancer risk discussions and changes in FDRs' prevention strategies.


RESULTS
Melanoma patients overwhelmingly (94%) reported risk discussions, primarily to communicate about melanoma prevention. These discussions occurred most frequently with patients' children (36%). Nearly half (46%) of household FDRs increased their melanoma prevention and control behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
This study attests to the potential to engage melanoma-affected families in prevention education.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10022, USA. hayj@mskcc.org
Jennifer
J
Hay
Jamie
J
Ostroff
Alisa
A
Martin
Nicole
N
Serle
Sireesha
S
Soma
Urvi
U
Mujumdar
Marianne
M
Berwick
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*