Melanoma: would you want to know your personal risk?

26 February 2025
Dr Courtney Wallingford

2 min read

Melanoma: would you want to know your personal risk?

If you could combine all your risk factors—your genetics, lifestyle, and family history—into a single score that tells you your risk of melanoma, would you want to know? How would you feel receiving such information, and would it inspire you to take action? These are the kinds of questions researchers at the University of Queensland are trying to answer.

A recent pilot study explored the communication of personalised (referred to as “integrated”) melanoma risk scores. The personalised score combined many melanoma risk factors such as age, sex, skin, hair and eye colour, mole density, previous skin cancers, self-reported sun-safety behaviours and polygenic risk scores. It also includes polygenic risk scores, which capture the cumulative effect of multiple common genetic variants on an individual’s risk of developing melanoma.

Participants—adults from melanoma research cohorts—received their personalised melanoma risk score via a tailored information booklet and attended a genetic counselling session. The goal was to assess whether this method of communicating personalised health information was acceptable and whether it had any psychosocial impact.

The results were encouraging. Satisfaction with the booklet’s quality and content was high, and participants reported feeling empowered to manage their melanoma risk. Most participants found the information booklets useful, and some felt it motivated them to adopt healthier sun-safety behaviours. Importantly, the process did not cause distress or anxiety.

“Participants reported feeling empowered to manage their melanoma risk”

However, the study also revealed areas for improvement. While participants felt empowered, many noted that they wanted clear, actionable risk management advice, tailored to their individual risk score. Another key finding was the importance of clinician (i.e. genetic counsellor) involvement, which participants felt added a sense of accountability for their risk management going forward. This reinforces the idea that even with well-designed information materials, human connection and expertise remain vital in risk communication.

The study’s findings are a step forward in understanding how to communicate personalised health information for melanoma, effectively. Future research will focus on refining the booklet and delivery model, testing its impact in more diverse populations, and exploring how personalised risk communication can support prevention for other common conditions.

So, would you want to know your personalised risk score? This study suggests that with the right tools and support, such knowledge can empower individuals without causing harm—laying the groundwork for a more personalised and proactive approach to melanoma health care.

Read the full article here.

Dr Courtney Wallingford is a Clinical Research Coordinator and Genetic Counsellor at the Dermatology Research Centre, Frazer Institute, University of Queensland.