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)

Hey,

I spoke to my GP, she said that the lines in melanoma are darker than the one I have on my thumb, but she is going to send the photos I sent her off to a dermatologist for a second opinion and it is a throbbing pain that comes and goes, but it's in the side of my thumb 

Hello

Mine was extremely faint, then it disappeared and I had a kind of bruise on my nail at the bottom but no line where it hurt. Just go with your gut, if it doesn't feel right, pursue it x

Hi Kay - you are welcome to contact me

I had my 2nd appointment this past Monday with the dermatologist. The consultant felt it was Longitudinal Melanonchyia and didn'trequire a biopsy but would monitor and be followed up in 4 months.

The Dr did say if I wanted she would request a biopsy. So for the past 48hrs I have been wrestling with this dilema - do I trust the instinct of the Dr or do I book a biopsy which apparently is very painful, will possibly put me out of work for x amount of time and possibly deform the finger. I'd obviously prefer the latter if the Dr turned out to be wrong!

The line is 1mm wide, very uniform in colour (a greyish/brownish colour) and straight with what appears to be no Hutchinson sign. I chopped a bit off the end of the nail and the line stopped where I cut the nail suggesting it is in the nail and not the skin? Obviously I have no idea.

So that is where I am at. If I was giving advice I'd probably say get the biopsy but when do we listen to our recommendations?

Part of me thinks I am overthinking but there is only one way to be certain here....

As to your situation. is the line darker/thicker etc? Mine appears to have not changed since I noiticed it 9 months ago but I cannot be sure. 

If you wish to message me privately I can send a picture of my nail (if this is not allowed then my apologies to the mods).

It goes without saying that you should follow the advice of the experts and not any of us but I'm definitely happy to share as much info as I can with you from my experience. 

It is scary. I've kept it to myself as my loved ones would panic. I'm not sure if that was for the best or not  but I can say I understand your concerns.

I am happyto talk any time.

I'm definitely going to pursue it, I'm just waiting on the dermatologist second opinion, all I can do is just keep an eye on it I guess, will keep you updated x

Thank for your  reply! 
glad to hear they do not think it is serious! I do feel for your dilemma but if you think it will cause you more long term Damage in terms of the worry it may cause you and worrying what could be then I would say to do it.

How long do they say it will put you out of work for?

my band is around 1.5-2mm in width and a brown streak but it isn't really dark as in black. Although I think it may have got darker as that's how I noticed it was there. Going through pictures it does look lighter in the past but hard to tell

properly from a photograph. 
please let me know how you get on and good luck with your journey!
​​​​​​​

Hi Raymond,

Firstly - I'm not a medical professional, so this is just my experience and opinion. 

I had a thin brown line on my index fingrnail appear around a year ago, was barely visible and I assumed I'd perhaps stained the nail with ink or similar. It got darker, and I saw my GP who referred me onto dermatology. They thought it was melanonchyia but took a clinical picture for observation. I went back in August as the line had doubled in width and got darker. 

I had the Biopsy in late September - it was painful for a week or so, I couldn't type. It's much better now, doesn't look very pretty but no pain. 

I don't have the results back yet, so I don't know if it is cancerous or not (I have previously had Basal Cell Carcinoma and am high risk for more of those) but I'm glad that one way or another I'll know what it was and it's set my mind at rest as it's difficult not to catastrophise and think the worst. 

Still no results, my appointment was set for today and Surgeon called to say they want to do a further round of testing on the Biopsy Sample

I asked if that was a good thing or not, and apparently it just means it's not very obviously cancer, but likewise it's not very obviously normal - so another 2 week wait, and fingers crossed when I have my next appt in 2 weeks the results will be back fully. 

Hi Louise and Finn

Could you tell me if Acral melanoma can appear with a white grey appearance with a dark bruise area coming from Cutical area only on thumb.

Thank you

Hi Polly

I really can't say it can present in a number of ways. All I know is how mine presented, the main one once the line had a disappeared was a small bruise in the corner but I had several signs tbh. But yes my bruise was on the cuticle area but this could be anything, acral is extremely rare. All i can suggest is to see your gp and if they don't take you seriously, see a different one xx

Thank you for your reply  should of said. Ice already seen GP 2 week referal to dermatologist x-ray photos and a plastic surgeon called in to see me at appointment. Decided in 1/2 nail removal and punch Biopsy.  Waited 4 weeks in which time it changed quite a lot.  Plastic surgeon decided removing whole thumb nail and take biopsy.  Awaiting results. Wasn't prepared how painful it would be. 

Thank you for your reply  should of said. Ice already seen GP 2 week referal to dermatologist x-ray photos and a plastic surgeon called in to see me at appointment. Decided in 1/2 nail removal and punch Biopsy.  Waited 4 weeks in which time it changed quite a lot.  Plastic surgeon decided removing whole thumb nail and take biopsy.  Awaiting results. Wasn't prepared how painful it would be. 

Oh you poor thing :cry: yes it is extremely painful, keep it elevated, I left with a sling, keep the painkillers topped up and rest. They remove the nail then take a nice chunk out of the nail bed, it looks very weird when you have the dressing change. Did they give an idea of a timescale, I rang after 2 weeks chasing the results. I really hope and pray you have nothing to worry about. Where are you being treated x

Hi Polly

i am so sorry you are also going through this stressful worrying time. 
I found the wait from biopsybtongettingbresukts was by far the hardest time. I waited 5 weeks for mine and I felt sick every day I was convinced I had SM in my toenail. 
Thankfully my results were negative. I've been back to see the dermatologist again as I got another streak much bigger on my big toe nail but it's not really changed in a few months so the dermatologist was happy to wait and I guess I was because he said I'm prone to melanochyia which is what the last streak was.!

I truly hope you get a negative result and as Louise says keep up with the pain relief xx

I don't know if I'm aloud to give hospital name on chat. I have been told to keep it elevated I had it done a week ago today. I'm right handed so trying to do things left handed takes twice as long.  Still keeping painkillers topped up.  The wait is awful I feel so stupid worrying over a nail and until now I had absouluty no idea you could even get this condition in your nail bed.  My head is trying to play catch up.  Hope you have now been treated and are cancer free.  Thank you so much for the chat.  Xx

Mine was my left thumb. Its very overwhelming and there's not much on the Internet re this type of cancer besides complete horror stories that are outdated. I was referred to psych onc for counselling etc I didnt take it very well in the early days. I just wish there was someone around to help me but everything was focused on CM.

I was the same as you, I didnt have had a clue you could get cancer on your nail bed!! Really scary when you think about it!!

Im nearly 2 years NED now and my CT results yesterday were clear. Take baby steps and you never know, theres more chance of you being negative than positive, keep me updated, direct message me any time... sending lots of positive vibes  

You are so kind.  Im thrilled your scan was all clear.  Thank you for the positive thoughts.  I havent told my Adult children grandchildren or extended family yet as don't want to worry  them until there is something to worry about.  They don't live near me so havnt seen apart from FaceTime calls because of COVID.  I'm praying they will never need to know.  I really appreciate the chat talking to someone who has had nail removed and a biopsy is so helpful.  Positive thoughts.  I've been told results will be 4 weeks (3 WEEKS TO GO) probably because of COVID. Very Best Wishes to you

Hi Tillybobs

Thank you for your reply.  So sorry to hear you have another dark streak on your toe nail lets hope it just disappears.  it is awful waiting for the results.   I'm either going to have good or bad news for christmas.  I've also got a nasty infection at the biopsy site so now on antibiotics that are making me feel rubbish.   I am also interested to read you had a dark streak as I did not, mine was more like bruising at the cutical that widened and grew over the weeks with a grey/white cloudy area above that kept changing in shape and size over the weeks  I did have a faint grey/brown line appeared.  I have not found anyone else apart from bruise have similar so I hope that is a positive.  

Best wishes to you &

Happy Christmas

Hi Polly4,

We are a little bit behind you - my son had a biopsy on his nail bed last week.

I'd noticed a line on his nail in the first week back at school in September (he's just gone into year 6). Contacted the GP who put him on an urgent (but not 2 week) referral after seeing photos. Got myself in a right flap and saw a dermatologist privately, who asked us to return after a month. The line in his nail was wider and hadn't started to clear the cuticle so although the Derm said it was extremely unlikely to be SM, she wanted a biopsy done. Another 2 week wait to see the plastic surgeon, who then said he wanted to do the biopsy urgently and would remove half the nail. After a week of isolating because of COVID my son had it done last week.

In the end they took his whole nail off too and said they'd taken a bit of a margin around what was there. I was told to expect the results in 2 to 3 weeks. We have an appointment to see the plastic surgeon again on Christmas Eve, which I believe is to get the biopsy results, but it doesn't say that on the letter. So, like you, we may get either good or bad news for Christmas.

My son does not know the potential seriousness of his nail line, of course, just that he needed a biopsy to see if it was something that needed treating or not. I am dreading a bad outcome. I know the chances of it being Subungual Melanoma are extremely small, but then I think that someone has to be the 'one' in 'one in a billion' or whatever.

Hi KatSuma 

Bless you, nightmare isn't it I'm praying you have good news for your son. I have been told 4 weeks for result I'm over 2 week wait so I make that just before Christmas but don't have an appointment yet, but pleased you have yours.  Will be thinking of you both.  Keep us posted.

Best wishes

Xx 

Hi katsina

So sorry you are going through this right now, my boy is in year 4 and it would just be unthinkable!!

The Drs you are seeing are being very thorough and these tests are to rule out anything. Please please please remember the odds are massively in your favour! This is extremely rare and the chances of a positive result are TINY. I know its not the best time to recieve any such result please focus on how in favour the results will be for your little one. Deep breath, you will do this,  I hope he is doing well after his biopsy, sending BIG hugs xxxx

Hi lousieandfin,

I am currently clinging on to the fact that this particular cancer is extremely rare in children. My son had a general anaesthetic to have the procedure done and that added to the anxiety for me (although he was excited to be having one!) I have been amazed at how he has been since - he was back at school for the afternoon the day after the surgery and says his finger aches but doesn't really hurt. We have to go back for the first dressing change today - he has asked me to take a picture of what it looks like so that he can show his brothers!

The dermatologist we saw stressed that it is highly unlikely to be SM, but there were enough red flags to make a biopsy necessary. She also pointed out that if it does turn out to be SM we have caught it reasonably early - assuming that the line did only appear early September.

xx