Had a growing, dark spot on top of my forearm, a little smaller than dime-size. Figured to be sun/age spot but thought should get it checked out. Doc said it looked like melanoma and suggested immediate removal and biopsy. He slabbed off a nickel size piece of hide and it was NOT a clean-skinning deal. Came back positive, but luckily very thin and early stage. Back next week to carve out more to be sure. Scary stuff but optimistic.
Moral of the story for my T-man friends - use sun protection and get any odd looking skin spots checked asap! Skin cancer is no joke!

Totally agree AJ. The dermatologist whacks off two or three pieces of me every year. I say better to get buried a little at a time than all at once.

Suspicious spots are not always dark and fast-growing. Some are pink or even white. Not all skin cancers are melanomas - there are various types of skin cancer.

If you have Northern European ancestry and are outside a lot, get checked regularly. Some people naturally have a lot of dark moles and while it doesn't mean these moles are all dangerous, bad ones are easy to miss.
Some people have spots may look weird and suspicious, with blurry uneven margins, but are benign, my son is like that and he got it from his dad and he got it from his dad.

A dermatologist will use a dermatoscope, which is a low-magnification microscope with a bright light, and see if there are signs of malignization, such as bundles of vessels, lumps of pigment, etc. You can't see that with a naked eye. An acquaintance is a dermatologist and I try to remember to see her once every few years.

It is also a good idea to have moles that constantly get traumatized, on the neck or on the waist where the belt rubs them, removed surgically. It's fast, painless and easy nowadays (either cryo or laser, the latter is fun but stinks!).

And USE SUNSCREEN! Have a few small bottles everywhere, at home, in the truck, etc.. Most of the US is too sunny for nordic people.

Here's a guide on types of skin cancer:




and about melanoma specifically:

I have some pretty cool pics of a basal cell carcinoma being removed from my shoulder. Sounded like someone fleshing a beaver when the Dr. was hacking it out. They had to cut 3 x over a 4 hour period to get it all. Also had squamous cell that was pretty tiny, Dr. removed all of that one just cutting it out for the biopsy. I now see a dermatologist annually, whether I need it or not.

Very true. Wisdom wasted on the older.

Wife had it on her lip twice. Like kick,,, they wack the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out of ya,,…..

I’ve got 4 scar’s like trapperkeck has, sunshine isn’t the only thing that creates skin cancer, as one of those scar’s is in my butt crack and I’ll guarantee that’s never seen the sun.

Texans?

Had melanoma basil and squamous. Been whittled on 7 times now. To late for sunscreen. When I was a kid sunshine and fresh air were healthy. Dr has me get checked every 3 months now. The melanoma made me nervous but it was caught in time. Looks like they are cutting a bad spot out of a coyote skin. Skin out a football shape and sew it back together. I am confidant I could do it if any of you want to save some money.

Going to be a tight skin area at the suture site. Good size piece of skin taken out of that area. Had an area removed from my calf a few weeks ago. Still have a hole in my leg. May never be the same again. Better than the alternative.

Yup ..had a basil spot removed from my shoulder..

Iam now using a cream for my bald head ... Some spots up there

Were noticed on my annual skin exam

I go once a year for that exam

My dad was the Mgr of Construction Reps for Dow projects in the Far East for 20 years, Bangkok, Hong Kong, etc and once he retired, the doctors whittled and dug cancer off his head for many years until he passed. he hated wearing hats! I hoed beans, sugar beets, and balled hay & straw till the cows came home as a kid but I always wore a hat & shirt and thank goodness, no sign of skin cancer!

Ive had Mohs surgery 3 times now. Twice on my neck for basil cell carcinoma and once on my scalp for squamous cell carcinoma. Not fun at all but beats the alternative.

My Dad is always fighting it. He has had a lot carved out. I'm guessing my turn will come soon. I spent a lot of time outdoors working and offshore fishing. Good luck and great you caught it early.

wws