Thanks, Mark and Arbor; sorry, I thought that I had mentioned it.
It's basal-cell skin-cancer so not a life-threatening thing; I had four spots 'scooped' for biopsy about a month ago and one came back cancerous with 'unclear' margins so I had to go back in for an extended excisional to try to assure clear margins (this will be biopsied, too); they removed an area about 2.5 cm wide area and went deep; I have 11 external sutures. Novacaine is wearing off and it is feeling a bit tender; ibuprofen should do the trick.
Compared to what my friends are going through, this a total 'non-event' but I am relieved to be rid of the cancer, nonetheless.