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Waiting for biopsy results

SH2020
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Hi all, I'm new to this forum and typing very slowly (sore & tender). Kinda thought this was a good place to get some advice & support. I'm 47, woman of colour. Recently this year out of the blue a black line started to grow from my cuticle area on my thumb @ Aug 19. Now a thin black line the full length of my nail, slightly wider at the base (cuticle) of approx 2mm. Showed to GP at end of Nov, saw Derm 5 days later urgent (early Dec). He examined through his something..a..scope. He said looks to be a Longitudinal melanonychia. He said he thinks it a mole under the nail bed growing out. He obtained a 2nd opinion from his colleague who further specialises in this area. Result was a biopsy carried out today, two incisions either side of thumb nail, nail bed peeled back. Nail removed, and sample taken for biopsy, nail replaced & stitched back on (TMI sorry!). I was advised I'd hear back in 3 wks. Praying & trusting for an ALL clear. Pain at the moment beyond words as general  anesthetic worn off paracetamol not touching it. Had to dash to out this evening to an Out of hours pharmacy to just get co-codomol to help get me through the night. So now is the wait... I'm finding there isn't that much info out there on longidual melanonychia

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    Welcome to our forum SH2020, 

    Poor you it sounds like you are in quite a lot of pain as this is even affecting your ability to type. I hope you have managed to find some suitable painkillers and that you did get a good night's sleep. 

    I hope you won't have to wait too long for your biopsy results. I can imagine it must be a very stressful time for you and three weeks can feel like a very long time.  

    There is some information on the MelanomaUK website on this page about longitudinal melanonychia.  I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be until you have a definite diagnosis. The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. I can imagine it is hard for you to do this at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. I also hope that the pain has subsided a little by now - if you still feel like you are in a lot of pain, don't hesitate to get in touch with your doctor who I am sure will have some good suggestions for you. 

    I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

    Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

     

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Hi Lucie,

    Thank you for taking the time to get back to me. I am truly grateful  for your support and kindness shown. Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I think my brain just went into an auto pilot state. I had to force myself to keep busy & made up my mind to stay away from 'The Google' along with other searches and wait my time out in a more 'neutral' mindset (certainly wasn't  bouncing around, but at the same time, not sad either). It was either that, or sit it out in crippling fear, which I know would have made my 3 week wait seem even longer, more than I could bear. My consultant said to me during the actual biopsy that he normally writes to his patients with the results. But he told me he thought it may be better to call me in for the results :-( (as you can imagine that sent my brain into overdrive - I daren't ask him why?). I just had to tell myself that he must know best. My 3 week appointment was sent in the post, then came 'the wait'. The day before my very appointment was due, I had a voice message left on my phone to say, 'the appointment had been cancelled and a letter had been sent instead'. Sure enough the next day my letter arrived. The results were that 'there was absolutely no evidence of skin cancer but rather, dilated blood vessels.

    I will never EVER forget that day, nor the months in the lead up to it, (as I know that this is not always the case for so many others).  I am so very grateful and I truly hope by sharing this that someone else can be encouraged.

    Thank You... cancerresearchuk 

  • Offline in reply to SH2020

    Thank you so much SH2020 for your kind words and for taking the trouble to come back on the forum to update us. I am so pleased everything turned out to be fine for you.

    This is amazing news we are so pleased for you. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie

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