A similar thing happened to me, although I did not get sunburned as a child, as I stayed out of the sun as much as possible. I went to the dermatologist for a spot that I did think was suspicious, and that turned out to be basal cell carcinoma, but while I was the the doctor found another spot on my back (which I could not see, of course), and that turned out to be melanoma. He removed that last week, and I am going back tomorrow to have more Mohs removed and then I have to go back again on Monday for the final Mohs to be removed. He has me on a 3 month return schedule.

Great! Stay on top of it. Since 2011 I’ve had a variety of spots frozen or otherwise treated. I am so careful now. And still grateful!

I put in for an appointment last month? But I won't get seen until January?! It's on the books.

:)

As of May of this year, I've had 4 skin cancers removed from my face - an increase of one. My next regularly scheduled skin check is in March.

Do your dermatologists make you disrobe completely and check you head to toes? The one husband went to did not have him remove his underwear, he just checked his legs, arms, torso from the waist up, and his face, without even asking him to take his glasses off. He did not check his scalp either.

I’ve had quite a few checks and some were more thorough than others. It’s awkward. They really have to inspect you but it’s worth it. Today’s is done. I’m good for six months or until I feel I want them to look at something.

You bet I go in for skin checks. My friend survived melanoma. Even though she had a skin cancer removed from her arm years before her diagnosis. She is a lucky lady.

Just had my first ever all body check... kadefol my dr told me to leave my underwear on (under a gown) and then she just kind of pulled it out to look around. It's definitely awkward, but worth it!

I too had many sunburns as a kid and used to lay out in the sun with baby oil for goodness sake! I used to love tanning beds as well. I'm so fortunate I'm not one big wrinkle at this point.

My dr found one suspicious small mole that I hadn't given a second thought to. She biopsied it and it came back negative - but the pathologist said since it's been disturbed he wants it totally removed. So I go back in a few weeks to have the rest of it dug out.

I have had several skin scans and haven't been impressed by any, so I'm looking for a new dermatologist. The guy I usually see doesn't even have me undress - he just checks what's visible on my arms and legs and face. No scalp. My scalp is the part I'm most worried about because it gets direct sunlight every day and I can't monitor it like the rest of my skin.

I've know a few people that have had some form of skin cancer. All were significantly younger than I am and all of their cancers were in areas that had never been exposed to the sun or any UV light source.

I had one earlier this year. Honestly, I went to get some moles removed because I hate them but while I was there I went ahead and got a screening. The doctor didn't like how one mole on my leg looked so he dug it out. It left a pretty gnarly scar but I will take a scar over a mole any day. He sent that and all the moles I had removed because I hate them tested. Everything was good. I am not a sun person. I hate heat and avoid the sun whenever possible.I was fussed at for not wearing sunscreen regularly,but as a night minion, I am not gonna wear sunscreen in the middle of the night. I wear it when I know I will be outside for any length of time like when I garden or when we go to the lake or something. But it's not an everyday thing for sure. I have a pretty pale complexion and burn very easily if I am not careful so I try to get screened every couple years at least.

Chi my derm started with my scalp - which surprised me as I hadn't even thought of looking there! I told her if there was any white residue it was from my dry shampoo that morning! lol

I don't think my scalp has been checked yet, and so I'll make a point of pointing that out when I go back.

My dermatologist told me that men tend to get melanoma on their backs and that women tend to get it on the back of their legs. I think I mentioned this somewhere before. I have male relatives who have gotten it on their scalps.

Our derm does from scalp, all the way down to between toes. She pointed out a freckle between two toes that I hadn't even known was there ;0) We both go every year and have made our appointments for next May. Did so on our way out the door there last Spring. My first appointment, maybe 12 or so years ago? I had a little red flaky spot right below my eyebrow that wasn't going away. I'd wondered if even an ingrown hair from tweezing. It was a basal cell, and gone within about 10 minutes of me meeting her the first time. Since then, I've had another on my shin, and DH has had one removed from his back. We'd both had a lifetime of sun exposure, outdoors much of the time. Neither of us particularly burn, but have been guilty of deeply tanning.

I had basal cell on my forehead 2 years ago (MOHS surgery). This year I have basal on my nose and squamous on my scalp. So will be getting more MOHS surgery. I have (or should say had) 5 sibs, all six of us have had skin cancer, 4 sibs had melanoma. We are all fair and grew up on a farm, hayed, gardened, were outside all summer. Nobody had ever heard of skin cancer in the 50's that I know of. Sure is rampant now.

I'm fair and had my share of sunburns as a kid. I never used a tanning bed though. I regularly see my dermatologist, and especially so after a melanoma diagnosis in April 2014. It was a spot on my back that I couldn't see. After seeing an oncologist and dermatologist every six months for five years, I don't need the every six months screenings. I continue having them though.

Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body, not just only skin that has had sun exposure. A friend's husband had an odd growth on the bottom of his foot. His treatment was delayed because of an inaccurate diagnosis. Once he was diagnosed with melanoma, he had surgery, chemo, and radiation, to no avail. He eventually needed to have his foot amputated at the mid-shin level.

And a few years ago Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with melanoma - on his brain. He was treated with a drug still in its experimental stage - Keytruda. It obviously successfully treated his cancer, and is now FDA approved. Melanoma attacks melanocytes, of which there are millions in the body. There's also ocular melanoma so be sure to wear sunglasses.

When being examined by a dermatologist, everything should be removed. I leave on my underpants, but off with everything else. I want every nook and cranny examined.

Check out the Melanoma Research Foundation for more information.

“There's also ocular melanoma so be sure to wear sunglasses.”

A woman I worked with back in the mid- to late 1970s developed a melanoma on her retina.

Apparently I don't know how to make the right kind of appointment. I have gone thinking my body would be checked and it's just a quick look. Waiting to go to a new doctor in Dec. from a referral this Summer for a suspicious looking mole. I might not should have changed family doctors and dermatologist at the same time. Too late now,but I have a couple of questions. Do I just ask for a full body check (words I've used) or what?

Does your doctor take pictures so that they can see if there's any change from one visit to the next? My DILs' dermatologist does this in Houston. Sounds like a good idea to me.

I've had a couple cancerous spots removed before. My body has all kinds of moles, age spots and anything else that can look yuck! Also, from the era of baby oil and I think iodine! Can just look at the sun and get a sunburn,aargh! Lots of blisters back in the day, too!

Sorry it's so long! Hope it makes sense.

I must have one of the most thorough dermatologists. He starts with illuminated scalp exam, ears, nose, lips, eyes, inside mouth, then examines my naked body, including between toes and bottoms of feet.

Since he's an M.D, he's also looking for other signs of disease when doing a body scan.

I’ve had pictures taken a few times.

Michael, my dermatologist does a similar exam. Looks everywhere from head to toe. Uses what looks like a magnifying glass.

Dentists are also trained to spot melanoma. A good hairdresser has also taken training to spot any irregularities. Mine examines my scalp, neck, and ears very thoroughly. She told me she gave a head's up to two of her clients that they had an odd spot that should be checked out, and in both cases the clients were diagnosed with melanoma.

Also, be sure you're seeing a dermatologist, and not relying on your general practice M.D. Dermatology is the study of skin and diseases. You wouldn't go to a cardiologist to have a hysterectomy. See a dermatologist - they have the specialized training to spot cancers of the skin. If you go to a dermatologist you don't need to ask for a full body scan. If you're seeing a dermatologist it's a given you're there for a full body exam. If you're not getting that thorough of an exam, it's time to switch dermatologists.

Michele, such a nice thing to share your story... and get the word out, so to speak. It's not anything that ever crossed my mind... as most of my family/extended family has never gone for body scans as you describe... but I guess it's a good thing to put on the agenda. Thank you for raising awareness...

PS I'm so happy that your story ended in a positive light... and I hope for your health and happiness for a very long time. Xo