Perceived Intrafamily Melanoma Risk Communication

Abstract

Melanoma is a skin cancer that can be deadly. Members of families with a strong history of melanoma have a high risk of melanoma occurrence or recurrence. Enhanced survival in these family members could be influenced by their knowledge of melanoma risk and by simple behaviors to decrease their risk or detect melanoma in its early, most curable, stage. Yet, there is minimal exploration on communication of risk or risk-modifying behaviors in melanoma at-risk families. In this study we described perceived intra-family communication of melanoma risk. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, we examined in-depth interviews with 22 members of eight families having two or more cases of melanoma. We identified four major themes: (1) Awareness and understanding of risk, (2) Families facilitate and hinder communication, (3) Promoting melanoma prevention and detection in the family, and (4) An obligation to tell others. We discuss these findings in the context of extant knowledge of cancer risk communication in families at high risk for other cancers, impediments to cancer risk communication, remaining gaps in knowledge of this phenomenon, suggestions for hypothesis-driven research, and clinical implications that are applicable to these and other at-risk families.

The Experience of Melanoma Follow-Up Care: An Online Survey of Patients in Australia

“…Patient fears for their children's health and their own cancer recurring are reasonable given the evidence of recurrence risk and familial predisposition [ 6 , 23 ]. Despite evidence that such concerns may be decreased with education and support [ 23 , 24 ], our study suggests that many patients with melanoma receive inadequate support for psychosocial issues. Oliveria et al showed that patient perceptions of inadequate support through the health care system could lead to suboptimal health outcomes [ 25 ].…”

Management of Melanoma Families

“…After all, four papers remained in which results relevant to screening of melanoma families were described [ 4 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. An American study showed that the mean tumour thickness of prospectively identified melanomas ( i.e.…”

“…Clearly families with a history of melanoma may benefit from knowing about their risk and behaviours to modify that risk. The purpose of one study was to qualitatively describe intra familial risk communication in relation to screening to generate factors that might hamper early diagnosis of melanoma [ 69 ]. We can learn from this study that most families had a high awareness of their melanoma susceptibility, discuss risk behaviours with each other and feel obliged to tell others to minimize sun exposure [ 69 ].…”

Sun Safe Partners: A pilot and feasibility trial of a couple-focused intervention to improve sun protection practices

“…These studies suggest that families discuss sun protection with one another and that greater family support for sun protection is associated with higher levels of sun protection. ( Manne et al, 2011 ; Loescher et al, 2009 ; Hay et al, 2005 ; Azzarello et al, 2006 )…”