Subungual Melanoma referral

Hi, I'm new here and worrying like mad. I had a fungal nail on my thumb with a light black line down the side, I went the docs twice and they said it's more than likely fungal as the rest of my nail was yellow brown and crumbling off. I was told to use a home remedy of nail applicator which can take up to a year. They don't like to give pills for fungal nail as I would need a liver function test due to the strength of them apparently. 

Anyway, I just carried on with my home treatment for nearly a year now, the black has thickened and is starting to raise my nail bed at the side. At the weekend, blood was spurting everywhere from and it was seeping blood all weekend. my nail went flat but stayed black. it's now raised up again with what looks like a lump of skin (I thought it was a blood blister) but smelling so I went to my gp again to treat infection if I had one.

saw a different gp and he agreed I had an infection and gave me anti bs. He then said he was referring me to a specialist and to expect an appointment within 2 weeks to be tested for menalona! 

straight away I went to Dr Google, I cannot sleep with fear, I'm 40 with a 6 year old son and no other family. I'm petrified that the black line has been there for well over a year and nothing has been done and it could potentially now have put my life at risk. Can somebody advise me or help me relating to this I'm so so scared waiting for an appointment and all I'm doing is imagining the worst.

Thankyou 

  • Hi Angie Just got back from the hospital, I have MM. I have a CT scan booked, lymph nodes biopsy and amputation for early Jan. It's PT3A (what does that mean) she said it's mid range but treating it as high. I'm floored xx

  • Hi Louiseand fin,

    So sorry to hear your news, especially at this time of year, however don't panic. I've accepted your friend request & I will send you a private message. Meanwhile, I'm a little confused as to your stage of PT3A. If it's T3A that means the melanoma is between 2 & 4mm in thickness (depth) - T3, and the A means it's not ulcerated (which is good). I don't know what the P refers to though. Did the consultant give you anything in writing, such as your histology report? If so, it may sound like gobbledydook but I can work out what it means. 

    I will send you a pm,

    Angie x

  • Hi,

    I have been referred to dermatologist and is panicking if it’s melanoma, please can anyone let me know how you got on?

     

    Edited on Tuesday, 22/01/2019 - 21.02p.m by Moderator Steph. Photograph removed by moderator in line with Cancer Chat’s terms and conditions.

  • Hi,

    i hope you don’t mind but I have sent you a friend request .

    im going through hell right now as I have had a brown/ black line in my little toe nail for about a year and I never thought anything about it as I always paint my nails so just ignored it. 

     Then read an arrival in subungual melanoma and it freaked me out! 

    I paid to see a private dermatologist as I couldn’t wait for a GP appointment and then another wait etc. 

    The dermatologist said he felt it was melanochyia a benign condition but I was to observe it for any changes. 

    This was 7 weeks ago and it kind of reassured me. 

    However I took my nail varnish off 2 weeks ago and I’ve now got another line next to this one! The initial streak is about 2mm wife and this one is about 1mm wide.

    i am now freaking out again, emailed the dermatologist and he said he wants to see me tomorrow morning and will book me in for a biopsy!

    i am now terrified it’s melanoma, he agrees it’s a possibility. 

    I feel so alone right now as I’m thinking the worst as it’s been there for well over a year I recon. 

    How is things with you?i can’t see any updated posts from you, so I just wondered how things are?

    x

  • Hi Louise,

    My wife is waiting for results, so your post chimed with me. It is heartbreaking for anyone, but with a young child, it must be devestating. How have you been?

  • Sorry to hear your wife is waiting for results, is hers Acral/subungual also?

    I'm doing really good considering, having treatment etc but feeling positive 

  • Thanks for replying, Louise. She has to visit a specialist next Friday, and Subungal is suspected, but I think she has convinced herself it is bad news, so everything is a little fraught at the moment. Do you expect the specialist to take a biopsy, if they see fit, on the first appointment, or is there yet another wait.?

     

     

  • Hi worried hubby

    I have sent you a friend request so you can private message me if you wish to do so?

    Is this appointment the 2 week fast track appointment to see the dermatologist or has she seen the dermatologist and is now seeing a plastic surgeon? If she is seeing the plastic surgeon for the first time, at this stage they will discuss the next steps re biopsy and what they will do.

    How long has she had the mark and is it also on her thumb?

    The odds are good re acral/subungual in the fact it is extremely rare, however, I was an unlucky one and I am stage 3B at present but I'm happy to talk things through and share my experience or answer questions based on my experience if you want, again, you can message me privately or here its whatever suits you best.

    Hope to speak soon and stay off Google, its extremely outdated and the stats are very old and do not include all the amazing treatments now

  • Hi Louiseandfinn

    How has your treatment been for you? I hope you are as well as you can be. 

    Iv a biopsy on Saturday on my thumb, I have a similar timeline to you except my appointments have been delayed due to having a baby. 

     Could I trouble you to ask how your biopsy and recovery was. But concerned about nappy changes and holding my 4 month old. (Daft, I know)

    It was impossible to ask my consultant questions as my autistic 4yo wouldn’t leave my side and was getting into everything. How long did you wait to recieve your results, were they over the phone or face to face? How much of an amputation did you have? 

     

    Warm regards 

    xxxx

  • Hi there

    I have sent a friend request if you want to PM me xx