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Children of parents who have melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer that starts in the cells that make pigment, have twice the lifetime risk of developing the disease themselves. A researcher from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) has developed a successful program to teach melanoma patients and their children behaviors that will help prevent the onset of melanoma later in life.

Yelena Wu, Ph.D., an investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of dermatology at the U, has found that her FLARE program—short for Family, Lifestyles, Actions, and Risk Education—improved sun-protective behaviors among these at-risk children.

"Prevention that happens in childhood is so important for avoiding skin cancer later in life. Children's skin is very vulnerable, and early sunburn patterns are predictive of later skin cancer risk," says Wu. "We're developing different programs to make it easier for families and others to adopt health behavior changes that will improve skin cancer prevention."

Wu says that the children of melanoma patients have a higher risk of developing the disease because of biological factors, such as skin tone and genetics that increase their sun sensitivity. These children are also impacted by environmental factors, including sun exposure patterns, some of which are established by their parents.

Despite being at higher risk, these young people often engage in behaviors like tanning and avoiding using sun safety precautions to prevent sunburns.

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