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 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!

  • 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