[Sidney Lanier]

Z, good luck to you! Listen to the doctor!!!

I myself am a Clark's level 3 melanoma survivor (1992), and believe me I listen to my surgical oncologist; she 'yelled' at me once because I showed a 'tan line' under my watchband! I explained to her that it came from driving, but that didn't stop her from reminding me of the consequences of any sun at all! Remember, when we were kids our parents told us, 'Go play in the sun; it's good for you.' Little did they know, as well as the fact that in even as little time as a few decades, the sun's rays reaching us may be even more harmful than when we were little because of environmental issues.

My ophthalmologist once told me a story of another patient of his whom he treated for melanoma of the retina when she was in her 20s. It recurred 42 years later (!) and killed her. The bottom line: The sun is no joke!!! And especially here in Florida!

BTW, for the itch you might want to try a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy over the counter at any pharmacy; it's strictly topical and it does help, though again the suggestion is to use it sparingly and only when absolutely needed.