Moles: Check Them!

So, I have a lot of moles...and freckles...and birth marks, what can I say? My skin is polka dots! (I always did love a great print!)
I have never had my skin checked prior to a couple months ago. NEVER! In retrospect that is crazy seeing as I have so many spots. 
As you can see, I love backless clothing, and I have lots of spots on my back:

At my last OBGYN, my doctor saw a mole she didn't like and asked me to go see a dermatologist. Being the chicken baby that I am, I put it off for about six months. Thank goodness my in-laws gave me any extra push to go see one already!
At my first visit I had 7 moles removed. And by removed I mean they were all flat to my skin type moles so they had to dig them out. The dermatologist removed four from my back, one on each of my legs, and one on my hand. He then said I needed to see a surgeon because there are two on my stomach and one on my face that still need to be removed. Because of their size and location he would like me to get stitches to have those three closed. Plus we were waiting for the results from the seven removed so if any came back "bad" the surgeon would go in and remove more from those spots as well.
We are also watching nine more moles. Photos were taken to document the size and shape, and in six months we will see if any of them change and go from there. 
Here is what my back looked like one week after I had my first seven removed:
One week later my results came in. Five came back fine! Two came back bad.
When I met with the surgeon he told me we needed to cut back into the two bad ones on my back to get the cancer and pre cancer cells out. The cuts will be much bigger, he is taking 2 layers of skin and some fat cells as well. Each of these will take thirty minutes to clean out.
 Plus the two on my stomach and one on my eye lid. OK, so now this is happening!
Here are the two on my stomach and one on my face I'm saying goodbye to:

Today is my outpatient surgery day. I am having all five removed. The procedure takes about two hours and I will be under anesthesia.
So, get them checked!! I am so glad I did this. Can you imagine if I waited any longer. Both doctors agree, I would be in very bad shape if I didn't catch this so early!
The next step is to wait for these results and make sure all the "bad cells" are out of my back and see what the results from the front are.
It's a process, and not a fun one. But it's much better then the alternative! And in the grand scheme of things it's not that big of a deal. Plus I get 5 new scars and I'm pretty sure that gives me street credit! lol
Do you have you moles checked? Have you ever had this done?