melanoma

[ mel-uh-noh-muh ]

noun

, plural mel·a·no·mas, mel·a·no·ma·ta [mel-, uh, -, noh, -m, uh, -t, uh].

1. any of several types of skin tumors characterized by the malignant growth of melanocytes.

melanoma

/ ˌmɛləˈnəʊmə /

noun

1. pathol a malignant tumour composed of melanocytes, occurring esp in the skin, often as a result of excessive exposure to sunlight

melanoma

/ mĕl′ə-nō′mə /

, Plural melanomas mĕl′ə-nō′mə-tə

1. A dark-pigmented benign or malignant tumor that arises from a melanocyte and occurs most commonly in the skin. Malignant melanoma metastasizes quickly and is associated with sun exposure.

melanoma

1. A serious, often lethal, form of skin cancer .

Notes

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun (for example, by too much sunbathing) can cause this disease.

Word History and Origins

Origin of melanoma¹

First recorded in 1825–35; melan- + -oma

Example Sentences

In the prevention studies, they first injected the plant virus nanoparticles into the bloodstreams of healthy mice, and then later injected either triple negative breast cancer or melanoma cells in these mice.

From TechCrunch

By using sunscreen you can decrease your chances of getting melanoma, so start protecting your skin and your family at a young age—and if you don’t usually wear sunscreen, now is a great time to start.

From Essence.com

Then he was diagnosed with a small melanoma on his foot which prevented him from joining the trial until he was in remission.

From Time

The 46-year-old Annapolis, Maryland–based runner had recently finished treatment for melanoma, and an elite local running team had offered her a place on its roster.

From Outside Online

BioNTech, for example, reported in 2017 that a vaccine against melanoma, tailor-made to each of its 13 participants’ unique cancer genetic profile, had higher immunity against their tumors and reduced the chance of spread.

From Singularity Hub 

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has seen a 200 percent increase in cases since 1973.

From The Daily Beast

Even though the drug is only approved for advanced melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer, it grossed $960 million last year.

From The Daily Beast

An upward trend is especially apparent in kidney, liver, and thyroid cancer and in melanoma and lymphoma.

From The Daily Beast

Beloved magazine designer Amid Capeci, who died of melanoma Tuesday, was only a boyish 50.

From The Daily Beast

But long before Amid died this past Tuesday—of melanoma at an extremely boyish 50—everyone already knew.

From The Daily Beast