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 .

It is the most frightening time, honestly all you can do is have hope I'm praying for you for the best news!! Please keep us all informed xx

Hi satish

Sorry you have found yourself here, please please try not to over think things, you have been referred to rule out SM, so your team are being super cautious here which is good. Subungual melanoma, or ACRAL melanoma is very rare, it accounts for 5% of all diagnosed melanomas. Yes it is more prevalent in Asian and african descent but I am neither and I have it. Mine did start off as a line but was left for quite some time before it was removed, you say you had some trauma, the chances of it being related to trauma is much much higher than it being SM. Try not to look on google, all them stats are completely wrong, you will just scare yourself, take each appointment day by day, try not to second guess the outcomes of the appointments as you will make yourself sick with worry. The 2WW referral is where you will see a specialist who will then determine if the biopsy is needed and the type of biopsy, if he does a punch biopsy he will more than likely do it there and then, otherwise you may be scheduled to see a plastic surgeon for the nail removal. Every person that has messaged me on here with their concerns have all turned out to be benign and they are completely fine, remember, the odds are in your favour, stay off the internet and try to clear your head, sending positive vibes your way, keep in touch x

hi Louiseandfin,

Thank you very much for your time to write such a detailed response trying to alleviate my fear. Anything I lookup on google akways points to that I may have SM and I am losing sleep. Yes I will take your word and stop looking up and getting further nervous. My NHS Dermatologist appointment is on this Friday 10AM and hopefully it won't be frightening from what they see and tell me. If it trauma related and less than 3mm do you think it may not be SM from your experience. How wide was your first pigmentation line? only one thing that worries me it looks like thick 2.7mm bar starting from cuticle to the other end. I am just praying god it would be benign. Fingers crossed. Hope you are recovering well. You said somewhere you are diseease free, what does that mean is it MM in situ? If situ is it not that dangerous? sorry asking too many questions as I didnt see anyone else with this condition so far. Much appreciated.

Hi Satish, please try not look into things, you are at the earliest of stages where you will meet the specialist. The biopsy will analyse the cells and from there they will tell you if you have it. But please.... it is EXTREMELEY rare, try not to pre empt what it is, you are wasting positive energy on a situation that in the laws of probability, it is nothing. Concentrate on your next appointment, not 6 months ahead, trust me, I know first hand, I was diagnosed stage 3B which is quite significant. Currently I am NED which means no evidence of disease after completing a years adjuvant therapy, BUT, you do not need to think about this, attend your appointment, the specialist will do the biopsy, and it will be thoroughly checked. Please take comfort in the fact how extremely rare this type is. I know the turmoil you are going through now, and in my early days I wished I'd listened to this advice. Please try get some sleep, keep strong and focused ready for your appointment. You can do this 

Thank you very much louiseandfin, you are certainly giving the courage for me to handle this, really nice of you. Yes you are right, I have a wife and 11 year old daughter, hence panicking a lot. I have sent you a friend request, pls accept. I want to PM you.

Also I am really happy to know that you fought bravely and now in NED stage from despite catching in advanceed stage. Hope you have a great life ahead with your family. I am glad to hear this.