Melanoma & Skin Cancer support: Introduce yourself and connect

Ginger, I've also had several basal and squamous cell CAs but it took a diligent plastic surgeon to point out the pinkish lesion I thought he could laser had suspicious irregular borders and suggested I see my dermatologist. The PA there didn't share those concerns but agreed to do a biospy; thank goodness as it was melanoma. I also wound up having a WLE with adjacent tissue rearrangement on my face, and now subsequent metastatic melanoma. Agree: Can't underscore the importance of sun screen enough!

Hi. My name is Amy. I have had a few scares with moles. I have had 2 severely atypical nevus, 1 in situ and one melanoma. This was very scary. It was located behind my ear. I would have never seen it. Thank goodness I go in for my every 6 month rechecks or I think that it would have been a bad outcome. Luckily the margins were clear with no residual melanoma identified. Do you know that if you have Parkinson’s that you have an increased risk of melanoma? I have PD.

Yes, research has shown that people with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a higher risk of developing melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Studies suggest that individuals with PD are approximately 2 to 4 times more likely to develop melanoma compared to the general population. The exact reasons for this connection are not fully understood, but several theories exist:
Shared Biological Pathways: Both Parkinson's disease and melanoma may involve abnormalities in certain cellular processes, such as melanin production (related to skin pigmentation) and dopamine metabolism (linked to PD). For instance, the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin synthesis, might play a role in both conditions.
Genetic Factors: Some genetic mutations or variations, such as those in the LRRK2 gene, have been associated with both PD and an increased risk of melanoma, suggesting a possible genetic link.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to certain environmental factors, like pesticides, has been implicated in both PD and melanoma, though this connection is less clear.
Medication Effects: Levodopa, a common treatment for Parkinson's, has been investigated as a potential contributor to melanoma risk due to its role in dopamine synthesis, which is chemically related to melanin. However, evidence linking levodopa directly to melanoma is inconclusive, and the increased risk appears to predate medication use in many cases.
Interestingly, the relationship may be bidirectional—people with melanoma also appear to have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life. This suggests a complex interplay rather than a simple cause-and-effect relationship.
That said, while the association is well-documented, melanoma remains relatively rare even among those with PD.

Interesting that you think melanoma is relatively rare. My dad is one of 15 children that all got some form of cancer. Now the children and grand children have skin cancer including melanoma. I have had 3 cases of it plus many other forms. My brother recently died from a melanoma on his back. My son has had 4 cases of melanoma along with my nephew. It is called the curse in our family.