The Skin Cancer (Melanoma) and Skin Cancer (Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas) reports, powered by 23andMe Research, are intended to provide estimates of the likelihood of developing these common types of skin cancer, based on your genetics. However, genetic results are not available for individuals who indicate certain ethnicities in their Account Settings.
These include:
- Skin Cancer (Melanoma) report (Powered by 23andMe Research)*: genetic results are not available for individuals of East/Southeast Asian, South Asian, or Sub-Saharan African/African American descent
- Skin Cancer (Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas) report (Powered by 23andMe Research)*: genetic results are not available for individuals of East/Southeast Asian or South Asian descent
To explain, these reports* are based on statistical models developed by 23andMe that take into account your genetic variants at many genetic markers, along with the ethnicity and birth sex you reported in your Account Settings, to estimate the likelihood of developing these types of skin cancer. We used data from 23andMe consented research participants to calculate these estimates. However, only about 1 in 1000 23andMe consented research participants of East/Southeast Asian, South Asian, or Sub-Saharan African/African American descent report having been diagnosed with melanoma. Similarly, only about 3 in 1000 23andMe consented research participants of East/Southeast Asian or South Asian descent report having been diagnosed with basal or squamous cell carcinomas.
Partly because these conditions are not common in these groups, we do not have enough self-reported data from 23andMe consented research participants of these ethnicities to create a genetic prediction for them that meets our scientific standards at this time. This means genetic results are not available for these groups.
While personalized genetic results may not be available to you for this report, we encourage you to review the general information regarding prevention, screening, and health impacts. This information is available to all customers regardless of their reported ethnicity. While skin cancer is more common in some populations than others, people of any ethnicity can develop skin cancer and can benefit from taking steps like protecting their skin from the sun and checking their skin regularly for any changes.
We are always striving to improve our data collection and scientific methods, and hope to improve our ability to create genetic predictions that meet our scientific standards for all customers in the future. As new research is conducted, we hope that we'll be able to provide more tailored information to all of our customers.
*Please note that Powered by 23andMe reports, including these reports, are based on 23andMe Research and have not been reviewed by the FDA.