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 

Parents
  • Hi Louiseandfin

    I wondered what the outcome of your appointment was as I too am waiting for an appointment next Monday for possible Subgungual Melanoma (2 week urgent referal). 

    Thanks

     

  • Hi there

    Apologies I have only just seen this so I hope your appointment went ok?

    I saw the specialist 10 days ago, he took some name clippings for testing and referred me for a fast track plastic surgeon appointment. The wait was hell but I saw the plastic surgeon and the results from my nail clippings showed NO fungal. I immediately went into meltdown. 

    The dr advised he will be making 2 incisions on my thumb to peel back my skin, nail and some of my nail bed. He said there is a chance it's melanoma but he's since lots that are benign so again, more waiting. The procedure is next Thursday, he did say they sometimes have an idea once the skin is peeled back, however, he did say I'm not showing any sign of Hutchinsons which is a positive to cling to. So it's an anxious 10 days now. My Dr has advised me to take a week off work after the procedure as it's quite painful if the paracetamol wears off once the local anaesthetic has gone and has stated I shouldn't drive either. I will keep you posted. Let me know how your doing.

    xxx

  • Hi there,

    im not sure why I’m on here or what to feel I have just been referred to dermatology for the urgent 2week care with suspected subungual melanoma behind my little finger nail.  The mark has been there for months but I never thought much of it until thin lines appeared above it very recently. I  in absolute shock, I have 3 year old twins and just can’t bear the thought of what the future might hold

  • hi bekkigraham

    i completely understand how you feel right now.

    i felt the same a few weeks ago.

    i noticed a line on my thumb nail after giving brith to my twins.

    i was sent for the 2week urgent referal and they were not concerned at all. I am have a review in 2months but they had a good look at it and said it is benign.

    i was more worried as my dad had a melanoma last year so any changes i know i meed to have them checked.

    its hard not to worry and think the worst. X

  • that is amazing news!!! Being a Mammy makes you see everything so differently, I am praying for good news don’t know how I could cope with anything other to be honest.  I really hope you are now settling into motherhood with gorgeous twins it really is the best thing in the world xx

  • Hi ladies

    Please remember subungual melanoma affects around 1% of all diagnosed melanomas so is extremely rare. It mainly affects the great toe or thumb so its even rarer to affect your pinky but can happen by all means. It's good they are rushing it through, please bare in mind if you dont have a biopsy and they tell you it is benign then this may not be the case. I was told mine was fungal/benign for 18 months, when I had the biopsy and it was sent to the lab where melanoma cells were found, because it was left so long untreated it broke away and was found in my lymph node. So while it's good a specialist seems to think it is benign without a biopsy, their eyes are not microscopes and they cannot see cells. If you are concerned they dont take it seriously then go back to your gp expressing your concerns. Remember, a biopsy is to rule out melanoma and early detection is key in the world of melanoma

  • thank you so much for the support and kind words! I know I’m thinking the worst but it’s pretty hard not too.  I’m thinking I will insist on a biopsy to know 100% that it is benign, praying to every god that that is the news I recieve! I’m so sorry to hear that you did not get your happy ending, I really sincerely hope that you are getting the best treatment available now xx

  • Remeber, IF it is mm treatments have come such a long way recently, I'm technically NED (no evidence of disease) but I'm having treatment every 3 weeks for a year to be sure theres nothing lurking. Theres no need for you to think about that though, that's way ahead and not for you to worry about, just concentrate on your next appointment, sending lots of positive vibes and keep telling yourself it's extremely rare so the odds are massively in your favour ok, keep me posted and good luck, now enjoy them beautiful children xxxxx

  • All you people are just amazing!! I can’t thank the members in this group enough for the supportive words! You are all inspirational!! I don’t think I’ve ever hugged them as tight as I have tonight, I will keep being positive and sending all the love in the world to you people xx

  • Hi everyone, just wanted you all to know that I saw my specialist today and he doesn’t think I have a melanoma!!! He was fairly confident but does want to see me in 6 weeks just to keep an eye on me.  Thank you all for the kind words xxx

  • Hi can I please ask if you had pain and swelling in your thumb??

  • Hi,

    My coworker told me 2 days ago that i should have my nail check as it could be cancer, hence i am on this page. I am worried as we are about to start our ivf journey. I've had a dark (brown-ish) line on my thumb for as long as i can remember. I will book an appointment with my gp this monday for a referral. Will it take long? I pray everyone is well and recovering. 

    Many thanks!

Reply
  • Hi,

    My coworker told me 2 days ago that i should have my nail check as it could be cancer, hence i am on this page. I am worried as we are about to start our ivf journey. I've had a dark (brown-ish) line on my thumb for as long as i can remember. I will book an appointment with my gp this monday for a referral. Will it take long? I pray everyone is well and recovering. 

    Many thanks!

Children
  • So sorry to hear that you are worried! Your doing the best thing by seen by your doctor.  If they are concerned then you will be seen by a specialist within 2 weeks.  I was so scared but thankfully mine all appears to be normal!! Sending you all the luck in the world!! 

  • Hi 

    how have you got on??

     I too have been to see the doctor about a stripe in my finger, although it's more brown but runs from the cuticle bed to the tip of my nail.
    doctor has taken it very seriously and referred me to a skin service - appointment on Tuesday. 
    having googled (I know I know) I'm panicking I have two small children and fearing the worst. 
     

    my stripe looks like a hutchinsons sign.
     

    Any positive stories please fill me in.

    roll on 2020 coz this ones been terrible since May!! 

     

  • Hi,

    I'm so sorry to hear your news, I know it's like your whole world is falling apart!! I too went to the doctors with what sounds like a similar mark on my nail in August, he also was very concerned and arranged the urgent appointment! 
    I'm very lucky that at this appointment the specialist reassured me that it was not what I had feared (again I also did a lot of googling)! He asked me to come back in 6 weeks time to look at it again and unbelievably by this point it had almost disappeared!!  I know how lucky I am and thank god every day as I too have little ones and the thought of leaving them behind is the scariest thing in the world!! 
    Please try and stay positive and let us know how the appointment goes, wishing you all the luck in the world xx

  • So glad to hear this. 
     

    Thank you so much for your quick response. Just what I needed to hear. 

    I've had a word with myself to pull myself together and given myself the advise I often give my 7 year old. There's no point in unduly worrying when I don't know the facts yet. It's easier said than done! It's just hard core reading about this type of malenoma  

    but then you need to read some things so your prepared and know what questions to ask. 

    Wishing you success on your IVF journey xxx 

  • How did you get on with this I have a similar issue just now and out of my mind with worry

  • Hi Miche 

    I went to see the dermatologist, was in there 5 mins. 

    He looked at my finger in a microscope said it wasn't cancerous yet as it was a straight line and not wavy. I went to have some photos taken and got to go back in 3 months to see if it's changed. 
    I'm in the system now and being monitored.

    I was totally irrational and out of my mind with worry. Once you see someone you will feel calmer. 
    Try not to google, it's the worst thing I did. 
     

    good luck For you x 

  • Thanks for your reply. I'm keeping everything crossed that everything will be OK for me too! X

  • Hi was just wondering did everyone have a line ? I have been referred to a surgeon for a mark under my nail looks like a mole under the nail bed ? My doctor did mention melanoma . Everyone else seems to have had a line mine is a mile shape I've had it since January and thought it was a bruise but hasn't changed shape or grown out of nail. Any advice would be appreciated.

  • Good morning, the shape under my nail looked more like a bruise shape and had been there for months and I also just thought I had bruised it. It was only when my little girl kept looking at it I googled it and was not worried as most dangerous marks under the nail are a line. However within days of googling it a line appeared and that's when I made the appointment. My doctor was scarily confident that it was a melanoma, thankfully it wasn't and the mark has now eventually grown out!! Wishing you all the luck in the world at this very scary time xx

  • Thanks for quick reply Bekkigraham glad to hear you got giood news. Hopefully I get good news too it's so worrying .