hi mum has had a biosy on her  nail 4 weeks ago and we still have had any news....is this good or bad?

Hi,

You can't tell whether it's good or bad news from how long it takes I'm afraid. The current waiting time for results can be anything from 2 to 5 weeks. All biopsies go through the same procedure - they are examined by histology, the report goes back to the consultant and then the results are discussed at a Multi Disciplinary Team meeting (MDT). This is where the dermatologist, plastic surgeon, oncologist and specialist nurses decide on the next course of action for each patient as per the biopsy results (discharged if benign or further surgery if positive). The hospital then contact the patient to (usually) come back for their results - it's rare they give results by phone or letter. If the hospital didn't give your mum an idea as to the waiting time for her results, I would ring them on Monday and ask if the results are available and when can you expect to hear from them? Sometimes results are delayed because the MDT is only held once a week.

Good luck, I hope you aren't waiting too much longer and that they bring good news. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie (melanoma patient)

thank you i will

Hi we have recieved the diagnosis today. She has grade 1 cancer of the toe. They are going to remove the toe and see that it hasn't spread. 

I'm sorry to hear that but it's been caught early so hopefully it won't have spread. Good luck and please let us know how your mum gets on xx PS. I've sent you a friend request in case I can help in any way by private message.

Hi everyone, 

firstly I apologise for not being in the thread for a while. 18 months ago I noticed a 1mm brown line up my right little toe nail, I didn't think anything about it until a few months later when I someone mentioned  SM and I freaked out!!! 

I managed to see a dermatologist privately and he was not sure if it was melanochiya or SM but he said it pointed more to melanochia. I had photos taken once I got referred under the NHS  and I  had to return 3 months later. In the meantime it got slightly wider so after 2 months I emailed him and told him it has changed slightly and I wanted the biopsy doing. 
mot was 4 weeks later that the biopsy was done and I had to wait 5 weeks for my results!! It was hell on Earth I had convinced myself I had SM and that was that. 
My biopsy results showed the lesion was  benign... I was just so relieved as you can imagine. 
 

fast forward to today and yesterday when I was taking the nail polish off my toes I noticed a purple/ brown/ black solider under my other little toe nail!!!!

thisbisnt a line and only goes half way up my nail but is about 4mm wide!!! 
This one is different to the last one - however it's in exactly the same place as my other toe? 
this looks like a bruise but I haven't injured my toe and it starts right at the bottom. 
 

I can't eat or sleep again..... I can't believe I am going through this again??

Any advice? Anyone else had this type of streak? 

Hi Tillybobs,

It's good to hear that your initial toe nail problem was found to be benign. That should bring some hope to others going through the same worry.

With regards to the toe nail problem, I'm wondering if both little toes have suffered trauma due to ill fitting shoes? This happens to my husband who, when wearing his walking shoes which are comfy but obviously cause pressure on his big toes gets bruise type marks on both his big toes! Do you wear shoes that are 'tight' in the little toe areas?

All that being said, I would still get it checked out by your GP just to be on the safe side as SM can present in different ways on the nail. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (melanoma patient)

Hi Tillybobs,

i am happy your biopsy came back clear , i do have a similer line on my little toe as well, i had it for about 9 months but keep getting fobbed of by GP's, i went privately as well and they said it is melanonychia buy not worth having a biopsy.... now i am stuck i don't even know where to go. I sent you a friend request can you please accept i would like to ask about your experience with this xx

Hi

I hope your mum's operation went well and she is making a good recovery. I would be grateful  to hear how she coped afterwards as my toe is being amputated on Sept 11th, also lump node biopsy.

Needless to say i am scared stiff.

Hi

I hope your mum's operation went well and she is making a good recovery. I would be grateful  to hear how she coped afterwards as my toe is being amputated on Sept 11th, also lump node biopsy.

Needless to say i am scared stiff.

Hi Margndog

First time poster here. How was your operation on the 11th? I hope you are ok. I'm so sorry that you had to go through that but as strange as it sounds if it has meant you are cancer free it was worth it.

Just to let you know my story and to let you know you are not alone. I noticed a clear black line on my right thumb about 8 months ago. I thought nothing of it as I was having some adominsl pain at the time so was preoccupied I suppose (that pain was the reason I joined this site as I thought the worse back then)

I had a Dr appointment online 2 weeks ago for something else and mentioned this line on my thumb during the consultation-  no advice was given but 1 picture sent by email a week ago got me referred immediately to dermatology. No explanation or anything. I literally just got a call to book an appointment with the hospital.

I am completely in the dark and worried. But, well - I am not alone either I see. 
 

Hope you are going ok.

Hi

yes mums op went really well thanks. Toe is removed  and she is walking with shoes on. its only taken a month. She got the results on Friday to say that they had managed to remove all the cancer with the toe as caught early enough.

its a really worying time when you don't know whats happening I hope that you get a few answers when go see someone but they usually can't say much until the biopsy results come in. 

Here if you need a chat. Don't read too much as there seems to be lots they can now do thats not on Google. Fingers crossed for you. 

Hi All

Biopsy booked in for next week - not looking forward to it!

Plastic Surgeon thinks its benign, so that's stopped me completely panicking, although until they see it fully and test it I know they can't be certain. 

Louise x

Hi

Hope you get your dermatology appointment soon. The problem I had was no one would believe that my toe nail hadn't received a trauma. Then from a two week referral it was 3 months before my toe was amputated! It took 2 months to even get the Biopsy. So by the time I was told it was definitely cancer I was totally prepared.

It's hard for you waiting but I am sure you will get better treatment than me. Please let us know how you get on. 

Thank you for your reply and I am pleased your mum is doing well. I had my toe amputated 10 days ago, the dressing was removed today and the area has healed ok. I long to get moving again  wearing a soft shoe. I  I also had a Sentinel Lymph Node biopsy which has left me with a swollen lump and a painful groin, the doctor suggested I wear cycling shorts!. I know my toe was magligant but will have an appointment within the next three weeks to discuss the SLNB.

How did yours present? Mine is a line throughout my nail, from nail folds to top and varying shades of brown - wider at the cuticle. 

Its now feeling a little tender beneath than nail as well. 

Hi concerneddaughter1 

That is great news. Give my thoughts to your mum. She is very brave.

Yes it is a worrying time. I have got an appointment with the dermatologist on the 28th September 2020. The referral time was within 2 weeks - the seriousness with which the Dr has taken it has left me stunned not least because I saw it at least 8 months ago and just thought nothing of it. 

I am sorry to hear about this Margndog. That is beyond frustrating and I can't offer any words to console you over the unecessary and costly delays. Sounds as if you are on the mend and I hope in some way lots of good comes from this even though that sounds silly.

I have an appointment booked with the dermatology department in 7 days time which was within 1 week of sending a picture of my thumb nail to my GP. As I say, no discussion was had as I was discussing other issues and I so far I have had literally no  medical feedback. I sent the picture and received a referral to dermatology. and that is it. 

My line does not appear to go into the cuticle but is a dark line which goes along the entire nail. Looking at the nail, I can see a similar but lighter line about 1 cm to the side of which also goes along the entire nail.

I am finding I have moments of deep breaths but the speed of things hasn't given me time to really think about it and I am trying not too. I am not sure what to make of this right now.

Biopsy done yesterday, the pain after the anaesthetic wore off has not been pleasant 

More stitches than expected as the lesion was hard to find apparently, not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Results expected in 4 weeks, it's going to be a long 4 weeks...

Hi  LWAFC

im sorry you have had to experience more pain than you had hoped for. 
It was the same for me, I had a lesson removed on my pinky toe and I was in agony after the anaesthetic wore off which shocked me as for a tiny toe I didn't expect that. I was told it was because I was walking around too much and literally pressure .... but with young children it was hard not to walk around. 

I hope you don't have to wait long for your biopsy results and I will keep everything crossed that it is negative. 

it's a long wait and very stressful, but hopefully you will feel in less pain today, keep up with pain relief and try to rest as much as you can. 

take care

sharon