Squamous cell and basal cell cancer is quite common on the head. The left ear more so than the right because when you drive, the left ear is next to the window and the sun hits it more than the right. It would behove you to look up American College of Mohs Surgery: ACMS and go to a surgeon listed there as they are certified in mohs surgery and practiced in closure of the the defect. Mohs surgery is named after Frederic E. Mohs, the surgeon who developed the procedure in the 1920s. Mohs was a Wisconsin physician who pioneered the technique to remove skin cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Squamous is more agressive than basal cell, so although with a lot on your plate which is daunting, you should not put the surgery off for too long . Ensure that the dermatologist looks at your head each time you visit, if you are concerned. Good luck...