Thank you Angie. Just pleased to finally have someone look at it, other than my GP.

So on Monday 29/7 I went to my GP about my big toenail. It had been discoloured for quite a while and I assumed this was due to me constantly wearing nail polish etc, however in the last month I noticed a black line at the nail bed. I couldn’t  remember banging it but thought it was probably a bruise anyway. However a month later and it still hadn’t gone away. GP looked at my toe and immediately referred me to medical illustration for photograph an hour later. 

Medical illustration said that I would hear from dermatologist or GP if they can treat it. Today 1/8 I got a letter through with a dermatology appointment with the consultant on Monday morning, it speaks about lesions, surgery etc. I am worried at the urgency of this, I was sure I wouldn’t hear from the dermatologist thinking it would be a fungal nail infection. 

Although it’s great that the process has been so quick, it is equally worrying me how urgent it all seems.

i also had bloods etc taken as I too have felt very tired like FluffySue.

Be pleased that you are seen so quickly. I had to wait so far 6-7 mths and still have no conclusive answer. I am being told it is just a cyst and yes they can have bruising. It doesn’t explain , why I had the bruising long before the cyst appeared. Now have to wait several months again for the surgery and possible biopsy if it looks it could be something else.

I wish you all the best and hope it is good news. At least you will know one way or another. 

It can be very worrying and that can also lead to tension and other symptoms that make you feel ill.

Having been assured by two dermatologists that it was nothing to worry about when I finally saw a nail specialist for another look at my thumb she actually removed it then and there and said how important it was to get it looked at. I had to call someone to come and get me and the car.

At the end of the day this is where you need to be,my second appointment when I was reffered to a plastic surgeon was similar, I went along for what I thought was a pre op meeting and was told they wanted me back the next day for an op under local again.

Best of luck

Rick

Hi

Do you think you could get referred to Gloucester? If you can there is a nail specialist there, it is by far best to get referred to that person as I saw dermatologists and they thought it was okay but once the nail specialist saw it that was it.

Hope you get seen soon.

Rick 

Hi Ricky,

my appointment was with a hand surgeon, but I am still worried and puzzled that no one wants to take biopsy, which would be the only clear way to determine if it is or not. SM has such a bad prognosis because it takes so long to get the diagnosis. Could you please let me have the name of the consultant you saw ? I recently had a dividend payout, perhaps I should use it to pay for a private consultation.

Many thanks

Petra

Hi,

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. Hopefully the dermatologist can put your mind at rest but if it needs a biopsy don't panic as this is the only foolproof way of knowing if it's benign or subungal melanoma. I know it's very worrying to get such a quick appointment (it may well have been a cancellation that you've been slotted into) but at least you are being seen immediately & don't have the awful wait to contend with. With regard to the bloods, the tiredness may show a problem like anemia - it won't show melanoma though as melanoma doesn't show up in the blood like other cancers do. Reseach ongoing has come up with a new blood test but it's currently being trialled in Australia.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

Hi Cla89

I have just read your post with interest as I am in the same position that you were a few weeks ago waiting on my app with the dermatologist for a sinister looking mark on my big toe.

I am really scared about what happens next in terms of the app and potential biopsy.

How are you now? And can you offer any insight as to what happens at this appointment?

Thanks

i’m really Scared about what happens next

I never saw a dermatologist , they just took some pictures and then said he thought it was a cyst.

i had to wait another 10 weeks to see a surgeon and now I am waiting again for my surgery appointment.

No one wanted to take biopsy, but I wished they had, as I am still waiting and worried.

if you can insist to have a biopsy, as it is the only sure way to know.

i wish you all the best.

Petra