A type of skin cancer that develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin (skin pigment). It is the most dangerous form of skin cancer due to its tendency to spread rapidly to other parts of the body.
From Greek 'melas' meaning black or dark, and suffix '-oma' meaning tumor. The term was first used in the 1830s to describe dark-colored skin tumors, reflecting the pigmented appearance of many melanomas.
Melanoma literally means 'black tumor,' named for its often dark appearance, but here's the scary part - not all melanomas are black! Some can be pink, red, or even colorless, making them master disguisers that can fool both patients and doctors into thinking they're harmless.
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