Hello,
I’m a 51 year old mixed race male, reasonably fit and not overweight. About a month ago I noticed two bruise like marks, one on each big toe. There has been no trauma to either toe and all of my shoes/trainers are a good fit. For about a week I ignored the ‘bruising’ and was determined not to research anything. I scrubbed my toenails in the shower hoping and thinking it may be sock dye. It wasn’t.
I eventually researched the symptoms and saw a type of cancer called SUM. I read that dark skinned people between 40-70 are in the risk category. I made an appointment with the doctor who examined each toe under a magnifying glass. He immediately made a referral and I received an appointment a few hours later with a local dermatology department. That appointment is tomorrow.
I’m keeping an open mind for now and until an actual diagnosis is made. That said, in the back of my mind and with the risk factors identified, I am bracing myself for the worst. It’s slightly unnerving because I don’t have any other health concerns but can only hope an early recognition will confirm or negate it being SUM and I can deal with it accordingly.
I have nothing but praise for my GP, his bedside manner in seeing me, staying non committal and calm and making the referral without delay was truly first class. He’s a credit to his profession.
SBW13.
