Your outlook is good... remember that...

But your experience makes me realize it could be much worst.

Also where it is matters...

In my case, being a woman and it being on lower leg away from vital organs was a factor...

look compact and not irregular. I guess they will tell me more about how it has spread on November 8th when they do the MOHS procedure. They cut away a peice at a time. Test it to see if they need to take more. I know they probably want me to stay positive but it's the waiting that's tough.

Worst place is on torso... so another good outlook indicator....

Are you female? I ask because women tend to have it on legs and arms - men on torso...

negligent as an older person sitting and working in the sun.

You have modern medical science going for you. My oncologist (the first time) told me that, just a few decades earlier, the treatment for what I had consisted of giving the patient morphine to ease his final days. I'm completely ignorant about your type of cancer, but I'll hazard a guess that you're on the right side of history. Good luck!

I imagine your dermatologist knows what he's talking about. Many docs try to give worst case scenarios so the patient can be happily surprised instead of hit with a whammy they weren't expecting.

Nothing focuses the mind like cancer.