@bluelizard: You bring up an important point - as we age, it can be especially helpful to stay engaged in our health care, so small concerns don’t turn into bigger ones. Most people with access to insurance should have the benefit of this ability for medical visits and/or medically necessary interventions.

I can well understand the concerns following the diagnosis of skin cancer, as I personally have had all three: several basal cell (I will be undergoing treatment for yet another this coming Tuesday), squamous cell and malignant melanoma that has metastasized. It can be very frightening indeed. You have been wise to report and follow up with with your medical provider when you notice something amiss. According to both the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Academy of Dermatology, for Stage 1 melanoma frequent full skin exams and lymph node checks, typically every 3-12 months for the first 5 years, focusing on self-exams and physical checks for recurrence or new primaries, with routine imaging generally not recommended unless symptoms arise, stressing patient education and personalized risk assessment is the recommendation.

Being mindful of our health means taking symptoms seriously while also trusting evidence-based medical guidance and being an active participant in your care. It can be troubling after any diagnosis of cancer to fear an untoward symptom as alarming but helps to keep in mind that while health concerns are valid, they’re best addressed through informed medical care rather than fear or worst-case assumptions. Does that sound like a reasonable approach to your own healthcare that you've largely been following?