Dermatologist Scare- Encouraging Skin Checks

A friend of mind blogged a few months ago that she had been prompted to get a skin check because of a scare that a friend of hers had. Her blog entry got me thinking that it would be a very good idea for me and Dan to schedule skin checks as well. I am definitely not a sunlover (in fact I generally avoid much sun exposure), I've never been in a tanning bed, and I've had very few sunburns in my life. The only ones I can remember are after jetskiing on our honeymoon and when I went to Nicaragua and El Salvador on two missions trips in college. Anyhow, I had been intending to schedule a skin check at some point and finally got around to getting an appointment for this Monday. The doctor noticed a spot on my arm that seemed suspicious to her, and she removed the spot (then patched me up with 3 stitches!) during the appointment. I got a call today that the spot was a dysplastic nevus (basically a mole containing precancerous cells). The nurse reassured me that the whole spot had been removed, but I am supposed to have skin checks every 6 months from now on. The biopsy results were surprising to me, as the doctor had even commented during the visit that she could tell I had avoided sun exposure and that overall my skin was in great shape. So, even with very little sun exposure, there CAN be areas of worry! I'd encourage any of you reading my blog to schedule a skin check for yourself. It's definitely worthwhile!!