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 Louise,

     

    I know this an old post so apologies for replying here but I've tried adding you etc and I'm not the most technologically minded so I'm giving this way a go! Is it ok if we talk please? I am having a thumbnail biopsy on the 29th of this mo th and would love to get your opinion on things if you don't mind! Thanks a lot, Rachael x 

  • Hi Rachel,

     

    I hope your biopsy went well and you are doing ok. I too had a biopsy done on my thumb on 2nd July, had my nail removed & biopsy on nail bed so am happy to help you with any questions, although I may not know the answer, I know what you are going through! 

    I'm still waiting on my results IhI my appointment at the end of August so im trying to stay positive as I have my husband and kids but it's hard not to worry. 

    I will try adding you as a friend.

     

    Take Care

  • Thanks Angie!

     

    im just so anxious about the whole thing, I get I am probably just overthinking it!

    I had a call off the hospital and they have booked me an appointment in the plastics department? I thought it was going to be dermatology.. and only plastics if they need a biopsy?

    Again thanks so much for your response!

    x

  • Hi Jo,

    Some hospitals have a combined plastics & dermatology clinic once a week that just deal with problems like moles etc that may need removing after examination. The Plastic Surgeons are just as knowledgeable at what to look out for as the dermatologists are because they remove them every day. My hospital have one of these clinics and if I see a Plastic Surgeon who is unsure, they will go get a dermatologist colleague to come take a look - so you get 2 professionals for the price of 1.

    It doesn't necessarily mean they remove it on the day but if they have the time and facility to do so they may. However, as yours is on your toe, they will probably bring you back at a later date if it needs removing as they don't like to do surgery on an area that will cause the patient mobility problems without forewarning.

    x

     

  • Hi Jo,

    I'm in exactly the same position as you. I went to my GP last Monday as I have a black spot/bruise on my big toe and she referred me to dermatology, im yet to hear from them.

    Mine isn't streaky and hasn't any lines at all, it is in the middle of my toe nail. Im a bit panicked to be honest! Google is not my friend at the minute and I've terrified myself. 

    When is your appointment? 

    Deb.

  • Thanks Angie, you're so helpful! 
     

    Hi Deb,

    my referral is Thursday 23rd with the dermatologist/plastics not sure exactly which the lady on phone said plastics but letter says dermatology? From what my doctor said cancer normally shows as lines across the toe nail/in the nail bed. Being in the middle sounds promising and also that it's not lines! What did your doctor say? Was he concerned or just following protocol and being extra safe? It's so horrible and such a worrying time! Google really isn't helpful and I've stopped looking now as it's only making things worse.. as the other ladies have said it's a very uncommon cancer and 9 times out of 10 it's just nail trauma we haven't remembered causing! The letter does explain they fast track to put your mind at ease and as part of protocol, Try not to stress too much! Easier said than done I know!

    xxx

  • Hi Jo,

     

    Thank you for the reassurance. My GP basically said she couldn't offer me 100% reassurance as she didn't really know for certain it wasn't melanoma. She did explain it didn't have the typical characteristics but wanted to get it looked at to be certain. 

    What does your mark look like? How are you feeling about your appointment? 

     

  • Oh I see! It's better to be safe than sorry, not having typical characteristics is a good sign so just try focus on that! 

    mine is like a bruise/blood spot, it started right in the corner of the nail bed but is moving up the nail now. It's not massive compared to my nail. I sent u a friend request maybe I can send u a pic via message? Not sure as I'm new to this site 

    x

  • Hi Jo,

    I've accepted your friend request so I'll send you a quick message!

  • Hi Angie

    I have just got off the phone to the dermatologist who didn't say anything to me if I'm honest. Please explained that I have had it 12 months and it appeared overnight, which she said was strange.
    She says she wants me in to look at it under a microscope which has an 8 week wait. Just as the call was coming to an end she said, do you go on holiday to sunny places a lot? Right I may get you in sooner then. 
    I am now more worried than I was before. 

  • Hi,

    I'm sorry that the telephone consultation wasn't as helpful as it should have been. To wait such a long time to be checked out face to face isn't helpful and it must be that the hospital is still playing catch up due to Covid. I really hope that they get you seen quicker than that. Try not to worry (easier said than done) and I'm crossing fingers for you xx

  • Hi,

    Reading this thread has been amazing, so many knowledgeable and incredibly kind people!

    I have what I thought was a bruise under my big toe nail, but after 2 months it hasnt grown up even a tiny bit and I googled hoping to find a bruise remedy only to find subungual melanoma everywhere. My doctor has referred my on the 2 week cancer pathway and I am absolutely terrified. 
     

    It's a really odd looking mark and doesn't look fungal or really like a bruise should after 2 months. 
     

    I don't know what to expect and I have a young family and I'm scared. 
     

    if anyone reads this and takes time to reply then thank you x

     

    edit: just realised I did this as a direct response to someone. I didn't mean to, sorry if that's not okay!

Reply
  • Hi,

    Reading this thread has been amazing, so many knowledgeable and incredibly kind people!

    I have what I thought was a bruise under my big toe nail, but after 2 months it hasnt grown up even a tiny bit and I googled hoping to find a bruise remedy only to find subungual melanoma everywhere. My doctor has referred my on the 2 week cancer pathway and I am absolutely terrified. 
     

    It's a really odd looking mark and doesn't look fungal or really like a bruise should after 2 months. 
     

    I don't know what to expect and I have a young family and I'm scared. 
     

    if anyone reads this and takes time to reply then thank you x

     

    edit: just realised I did this as a direct response to someone. I didn't mean to, sorry if that's not okay!

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