I tend to think the extensive scar is due to aggressive surgery. Better to be safe than sorry. McCain was originally diagnosed back in 1993.

Sam Donaldson had a melanoma removed from his groin in 1995. He was a stage III - and is still going strong 13 years later.

Shonda Schilling, wife of Curt Schilling (Baseball Pitcher) had a melanoma removed back in March 2001. She was stage II.

Troy Aikman had one removed 10 years ago.

Then there was poor Maureen Reagan who died in 2001. She was diagnosed 5 years earlier, but she ended up with mets to the bone and brain.