Take a deep breath, and then another. I know first hand how scary this time is for you. This is the one experiance with cancer we all have in common. No matter what type of cancer we all may have. That frightening, black time after you have been diagnosed.
You are now on the road to recovery. Nothing else.
I strongly reccomend for you to get a journal. Write everything down, including how you feel right now. Write down your Drs., your appointments, reactions of friends and family, everything. I was really suprised how much that help my husband and I.
My husband was dx with Melanoma on his right arm in 10/07. A very large mole that required a large piece of his arm to be removed, from his elbow to nearly his wrist. We were told he would require a graft, but his onc/surgeon was wonderful and he didn't have to have one. His skin was so tight that he was at risk for splitting the uninvolved area of his arm. It wasn't pretty. However, here it is 07/08 and unless I point it out to you, it really isn't noticeable. A scar and some dimpling, nothing really. I am really amazed.
He had two lymph nodes removed and to everyone's surpise the cancer had not spread. He goes in every three months for full check ups, and will continue a similar routine for 5 years.
Early detection is the best thing for Melanoma. You have a head start. Some people don't realize they have Melanoma until they are being treated for Brain, Liver, or lung cancer.
Count your blessings, start your recovery.