> 3) read about Melanoma, was shocked how much I didn't know.

Yeah it's weird how little people know about something so prevalent. People are shocked to find how many different types and sub-types of cancer are out there and how different the prognoses vary from one to the other.

I just got the diagnosis a month or so ago (26 y/o, a year after my dad dies of lymphoma... epic wtf's all around).

First response is "Oh, well at least it's only skin cancer. They just cut it out and you're good." -- heh... NOPE.

Also, I was walking around with it and a lump in my neck for months because Dr. said it was only a birthmark, probably just scarred node, etc. Until I pushed for a dermatologist.

tl;dr: Get checked. Be paranoid. Don't take "you're young, it's nothing" for an answer. Demand a biopsy.

I hope you recover quickly and that everything will be fine! My condolences on the loss of your father. I'm always paranoid, this is why I used to avoid being checked :)