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Concerned

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I'm a teacher and I've been working during lockdown. A couple of weeks ago I was washing my hands and noticed what I thought was a black pen mark on my left ring finger which I tried to wash off. I forgot all about it and last week in half term decided to show my GP. I've just been told that I've been referred urgently to dermatology for suspected nail melanoma. My Dad had a malignant melanoma 18 years ago. So I can't help but be anxious. Any advice ? Many thanks 

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    Hi,

    I'm sorry you are going through this worry. Your GP is right to get you checked out by a dermatologist, especially with your family having a history of melanoma, but there is a good chance the mark is caused by something else (ie a broken blood vessel, bruise or fungal infection). SM is quite rare, it accounts for only 5% of melanoma diagnoses and it's more prevelant in Asian, Black and Oriental ethnicities. Was your dad's melanoma a mole on the skin (superficial spreading melanoma)? If so, there is a good chance it's not connected as, again, it's quite rare that two different types of melanoma would occur in a family or even in the same patient. 

    You can search the forum for similar posts regarding nail problems - just type Subungual Melanoma in the Search Forum bar at the top of the page. You will see lots of members have been referred & many have been given a clean bill of health so hopefully this will help.

    Good luck with the appointment and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (melanoma patient)

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    Hi,

    I'm sorry you are going through this worry. Your GP is right to get you checked out by a dermatologist, especially with your family having a history of melanoma, but there is a good chance the mark is caused by something else (ie a broken blood vessel, bruise or fungal infection). SM is quite rare, it accounts for only 5% of melanoma diagnoses and it's more prevelant in Asian, Black and Oriental ethnicities. Was your dad's melanoma a mole on the skin (superficial spreading melanoma)? If so, there is a good chance it's not connected as, again, it's quite rare that two different types of melanoma would occur in a family or even in the same patient. 

    You can search the forum for similar posts regarding nail problems - just type Subungual Melanoma in the Search Forum bar at the top of the page. You will see lots of members have been referred & many have been given a clean bill of health so hopefully this will help.

    Good luck with the appointment and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (melanoma patient)

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