Hi

All these things vary but to put some timeline on my treatment. After 8 months of noticing a dark mark on my thumb nail I it was dismissed as a nail infection. At twenty months when the nail had mainly fallen off I returned and got a referral that took 5 months.

There was another appointment and another month went by.

On the day the nail and a lesion was removed as well as surrounding tissue. (Don't drive to the appointment!)

Even when there is a lesion it is not always going to be a Melanoma it has to be analysed.

I saw the lesion removed and then researched what it would mean if it was the size I saw on the desk and panicked. The actual thickness was much les,s so you have to wait for that analysis it is very hard not knowing. So what was in my case apparently a very active tumor which had been there for over two years was 2mm thick. Once the lesion is removed and analysed the surrounding tissue is checked for safe margins to ensure all the cells are clear. In my case it took another 2 operations to clear all the cells.

I hope that helps in some way and wish you the best with the treatment.

The presription for pain killers was a little messed up in my case. I made the mistake of thinking I could get the prescription from a local store pharmacy but because the strength of the drug was set with a 0 instead of a 5 at the end there was no such strength and they wouldn't give it to me. Two pharmacists refused to do it and eventually when we found out why we sorted it out and took it to another place who supplied it. Best advice use the hospital pharmacy in case of such a mistake as it can be sorted out then and there. 

 RickyB

Thanks for your reply RickyB

How are you keeping now?

I'm trying to stay busy until my app on 3 Oct and not to Google stuff as, like you, all research is leading to panic. It's my toe nail that is affected - a black and red thick band under the nail which has been there for at least five months following a years fungal infection.

Once I know exactly what I am dealing with I'll likely have a lot more questions. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

Emmand

Just got a call today, that there has been a cancellation and I have an appointment for my op next Monday. Fingers crossed it will finally give me a diagnosis either way.

Feeling relieved .

Hi Mossy7000

How did your op go? I do hope you get a positive outcome.

I have my dermatologist app on Thursday.

Emmand

It was a bigger op than I thought it would be. There was definitely a cyst there and they have send off samples to make sure there is nothing else. Waiting for the results, just so pleased I will finally get some answers.

Good luck with your appointment. I will keep fingers crossed for you.

Hi 

I had big toe that had what I thought was a big bruise for 4months went gp because it was now throbbing n tingling..I had telephone from hospital within 3 hours :0  and an appointment  in 4 days  I'm so scared I go tomorrow hoping it's just a subungal heamatoma..but what brilliant nhs yorkshire

Hi Owcha,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I just wanted to send a quick reply to say that it has been quite a while since Mossy7000 posted - hopefully you will receive a reply but if not you may wish to create your own new thread on the forum.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hello, 

I've had a purple/black toenail for almost two months now, I've not bumped it or dropped anything on it. So I finally went to see my Dr today, he completely ruled out any infections (which I thought it was) and said he is going to refer me to a dermatologist and will have a biopsy to test for cancerous cells, within an hour i recieved a text for my first hospital appointment on 16th December.. anyone who has been through similar what happens at the first appointment and how is the biopsy usually carried out? I refuse to use Google for the answer! 

Sammie from UK

Hi, my first appointment was to basically have a look at the nail and to see which way the line was running, second appointment was to remove the whole nail and take a sample from the nail bed

Hi Kuga

i saw a dermatology consultant today (for psoriasis) and she noticed what I thought was a bruise on my big toe nail. She is very concerned about it and is referring me for a biopsy within the next 2 weeks under the cancer guidelines. It's come as a bit of a shock as I had ni concerns about the toe. It's not painful and seemed to appear overnight about 6 weeks ago.

Can you let me know anymore about the biopsy procedure? Was it very painful after?

Many thanks & hope all is ok with you.