I don't think skin cancer gets the respect that it deserves. I had a spot on my face and I thought no big deal. The doctor will cut it off and I will be fine. The first clue I got that this could be serious is when I went to a general surgeon and he refused to take it off because he was afraid he would butcher my face. He recommended a plastic surgeon. The first thing the plastic surgeon said was "it looks like melanoma, are you working"? I said yes and he told me that it had to come off today and that I wouldn't be working for a month. He took a piece of meat out of my cheek the size of a half dollar. They tested it while I was still on the table. He said "I'm sorry, it's malignant". He told me that they would send it off to see if he got it all. He said to come back in three days and that he wanted to see my parents and my wife and he would give us the news. As I was getting dressed to go home, the doctor talked to my parents. He informed them that it didn't look good. That was a long three days. We all went in to his office after the three days waiting to hear the worst. The doctor walks in with my test results. He had this huge smile on his face. I was confused on what was happening. He spoke up and said that the test showed he got it all and that the cancer hadn't spread. He suggested we go out and celebrate. I was the first patient he ever got to in the first stage. I had to go for test twice a year for ten years and was then considered cured. I still go to a dermatologist once a year. I have had numerous other moles and blemishes taken off. They don't even hesitate now. Don't even ask me, they just cut them off. So please give skin cancer respect. I always wear a hat, sunglasses and of course sun screen. I am supposed to put on sunscreen right after I brush my teeth every morning but I have to admit I don't seem to get around to it. Be careful out there.