The following is a transcript of a report by medical editor Marilyn Brooks that first aired April 25, 2008, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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Despite warnings about skin cancer and staying out in the sun, millions of Americans continue to tan.

With more than 1 million new cases every year, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. If it is caught early, it's very treatable, but an unusual form of the disease might signal an underlying syndrome that makes some people more susceptible to certain other cancers.

For Susan Lasure, learning to embroider took lots of patience and determination, which are the qualities that helped in her battle with cancer, which began with a spot on her face more than 12 years ago.

"It was a very fast-growing tumor," she said. "It was right on the side of my nose. It got very big very quickly."

Doctors removed the tumor, and Lasure thought her bout with cancer was over. It was really just the beginning. She has a genetic condition called Muirtorre syndrome, which is a condition that increases the risk of developing certain skin, colon and endometrial cancers.

When she developed colon cancer years later, doctors realized the significance of her skin tumor.

"Besides a family history, these skin tumors may be the only sort of warning sign that a patient may have a hereditary cancer syndrome such as this," said Dr. Chris South of the James Cancer Hospital.

South said now that scientists have made the link between skin cancer and the risk of colorectal cancer, they may be able to use one to help prevent the other. In a recent study, doctors found six out of 10 patients with colorectal cancer actually had skin cancer first, often years earlier.

"And so that's potentially 60 percent of colorectal cancers that could have been prevented through high-risk cancer screening and surveillance strategies," said South.

Lasure now has regular screening tests for other forms of cancer. Her family has been tested as well. A genetic test showed that she is the only one in her family with Muirtorre, which means the rest will probably not face the same challenges.

If you have a history of cancer in your family, especially skin cancer and colorectal cancer, experts say you should talk to a genetic counselor. Patients who have the genetic mutation should be closely monitored for early cancer detection, including a yearly colonoscopy starting at age 25. Endometrial cancer screenings using ultrasound and biopsies should start at age 30.

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