That's one of the simple messages Dubbo's Carrie-Ann Beggs is hoping to get out to the public.

Ms Beggs was diagnosed with stage three melanoma in September 2017, six months later it progressed to stage four. What started off as a cancerous on her leg metastasised to her lymphnodes, bowel, lung, shoulder and abdomen.

"People go 'oh it's skin cancer, it's a thing you just get cut off your skin and then you're right', but it's serious. Every five hours one Australian dies from melanoma. It's not just something you get cut off your skin," Ms Beggs said.

"Even when the doctor said he was going to take it out, I didn't even think 'this might be bad news'. I didn't know anything about melanoma."

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She was one of the driving forces behind the Melanoma March which was planned for March 21. It was the first time it would have been held in Dubbo, but on Friday afternoon organisers decided to call all of the events off.

Despite the march not going ahead, Ms Beggs is still encouraging people to support the Melanoma Institute Australia.

She refers to the institute as her "lifeline", saying she wouldn't be here today without it and people like Professor Georgina Long. Ms Beggs said researchers and clinicians at the institute had tripled the life expectancy of advanced melanoma patients.

The 42-year-old is currently on her third trial, and while it's not going as good as hoped, she said she was feeling well.

By telling her story, she's hoping to raise awareness of a few simple things.

"Get a skin check. Be aware of you own skin," Ms Beggs said.

"There was a campaign over summer called Game On, Mole. It was about being aware. It's so easy now, any spots you're not sure of just take a photo with your phone. The aim of the campaign was that you take a photo at the beginning of summer and then at the end and just compare."

She also encouraged people to trust their instincts.

"Go with you gut. If you've seen your GP and you're not comfortable with what they're saying, get a second option," Ms Beggs said.

The Melanoma Institute Australia is considering holding virtual Melanoma March on March 29.