Melanoma

Patent Pending Melanoma (Listeni/ˌmɛləˈnoʊmə/; from Greek μέλας melas, "dark")[1] is a type of skin cancer, which form from melanocytes (pigment containing cells in the skin).[2] In women, the most common site is the legs and melanomas in men are most common on the back.[3] It is particularly common among Caucasians, especially northern Europeans and northwestern Europeans living in sunny climates. There are higher rates in Oceania, North America, Europe, Southern Africa, and Latin America.[4] This geographic pattern reflects the primary cause, ultraviolet light (UV) exposure[5] crossed with the amount of skin pigmentation in the population.[6][7] Melanocytes produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. These cells predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye (see uveal melanoma). Melanoma can originate in any part of the body that contains melanocytes.