Skin cancer made headlines this week with news that First Lady Laura Bush had one removed last month. This picture of President and Mrs. Bush was taken Monday night.

Mrs. Bush was lucky. The nickle-sized spot located on her right shin turned out to be a squamous cell cancer, not the far deadlier form known as melanoma. The American Cancer Society estimates skin cancer will kill about 10,700 Americans this year, includnig nearly 8,000 from melanoma.

The news generated a flurry of stories about skin cancer risk, diagnosis and treatment

Even more interesting was how presidential spokesman Tony Snow characterized the diagnosis and treatment. An Associated Press story Tuesday quoted Snow as likening Mrs. Bush’s cancer to a cold, the flu or a stomach ache.”It’s no big deal,” Snow said.

If you’ve been treated for either basal or squamous cell skin cancer, we’d love to hear about your experience. Send us a comment.