Anyone please??

Hello Matthew1 and thanks for posting, 

I’m afraid no one here on Cancer Chat can say what is causing anything like this. So our advice has to be to get properly checked out by your doctor when new and persistent symptoms crop up.

Subungual melanomas are rare so just for this reason another explanation is much more likely. And as you say you might have injured your toe and caused a bruise. 

Try not to panic but speak to your GP and get their input. Talking to the doctor is usually the best way of finding out what is wrong and hopefully the fastest way to get some peace of mind. 

Best wishes, 

Julia  

Thanks for replying and your help.

Family members have told me not to go to the doctors as they have said it's nothing to worrying sbout which leads to short term reassurance. I just cannot relax AT ALL. I think my anxiety is the worst thing here.

Highly likely to be a bruise. They take a while to go on toenails mine took 6 months.

Most likely a bruise l would give it a bit longer to clear before seeing GP so easy to knock your feet. I bruise easily and find them everywhere without remembering any injury's, 

l would leave google for a bit so easy to think you have a problem, try to relax 

Susie 

Thanks,

It hasnt gotten any bigger sicne I noticed it ages ago, im convinced its blood. I read online (not good I know) but it can take 6-9 months for these things to go away.

I had two black toenails that came about when i started exercising more regularly. I was a bit worried as they looked so dramatic but its ust blood under the toenail through bruising. 

Hi,

Marks under the nail can occur due to a number of reasons including fungal infection and trauma. Trauma doesn't always mean stubbing or dropping something on the toe - it can also be caused by ill fitting footwear, especially if they are new shoes or they've been worn for long periods (long walk etc). Bruises under the nail take several months to grow out but they can be seen to grow out as the nail grows.

If you've now had the mark for 6 weeks I would leave it another few weeks and watch to see if it starts to grow out with the nail. If there is no change in a few weeks I would make an appointment with your GP so it can be checked out. Subungual melanoma isn't common - it only accounts for 5% of melanoma cases (about 800 per year in the UK). So the chance it's not melanoma is high. Try to stay away from Google for the moment and I suggest you photograph your nail once a week so it's easier to track any changes. Hopefully it will start to grow out but please see your GP if it doesn't. Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi Angie

Thanks for reaching out. I have taken photos but I was obsessively checking them and comparing them to each other and looking for differences which only worried me more so I had to delete them. Mine looks like nothing like a 'normal' subungal melanoma I.e. not a stripe or brown in colour. Mine is red in colour almost like blood and I'm pretty sure ive scraped a bit of it off before knowing I shouldn't have.

Further to this family members have told me it's nothing to worry about and that I don't need a doctor. I really don't know anymore. And also Google is hard to stay off.

Thanks

Hello Matthew1 and thanks for posting, 

As this is troubling you I think it would be a good idea to get some input from your GP and get this sorted out so hopefully you can get some peace of mind and stop worrying about it. This is what we usually say to people who come on to Cancer Chat trying to work out what is the matter - no one here can give anyone reassurance or make a diagnosis. At the same time you could mention your anxiety and how much this has been preying on your mind.

In the meantime, take a look at the NHS webiste see if any of the advice there about managing anxiety helps.

www.nhs.uk/.../anxiety

All the best, 

Julia