Timing is of the utmost importance due to the upper end of the staging, but their is NO cancer that someone has not beat. To know where the best place is for your family is not only location to your home but also in treating the disease. Many hospitals are highly qualified, but your success will come when your Dad is completely comfortable with his treatment plan and has questions welcomed not subdued. So a second opinion is always needed and in this case, "quickly" check out www.cancercenter.com and ask their Oncology Information Specialist your questions regarding your fathers diagnosis and the facility where you are headed and they will tell you all to expect as well. I am a 6 yr survivor of Stage 3 Melanoma and I know within 2 weeks of diagnosis I was in a oncologist office in my home state and 2 wks later under the knife 6 hrs away and they took the melanoma with a large excision (so as to get clean borders) and gave me the option of a node disection to see if or what lymph nodes were involved; at the time my bristow stage was a 1 due to the size of the melanoma, a little red pimple, on my shoulder. It had in fact went in to the lymph nodes so moved me up to stage 3, they then felt I should do a years worth of chemo, and at that point got a second opinion from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, they concured but also offered alternative treatment that I chose to do along with the chemo to give my body every fighting chance. Each case is different and I am sure they will probably be very agressive with a stage 5, and it is scary like someone hit you in the gut, and the panic and urgency is overwhelming; Take several deep breaths and go to the site or call 800 788 7485 and ask for a OIS that is on 24/7 NO QUESTION is a dumb question, whether from the patient or the family. Be strong in the Lord, get your church family praying for wisdom, direction and swift accurate treatment, that God's will will be done. This is life and none of us can live forever but we are never ready to go now. It is my belief only that God always heals, whether it is here on earth or in Heaven only He knows that. Even if you decide to stay in California; you can still call the # and get encourgment and support. I am sending you a huggg............I ask God would help you and your mom and dad to feel it. Stay positive and be proactive in all the avenues the doctor suggests, family can go anywhere with the patient if it will make patient feel better. God Bless!Sheila