Hi,

I'm so sorry that you are facing all this so long after your GP dismissed it. I don't have subungal melanoma (mine is subcutaneous - the skin type) but I know a few people who do have this type. It's actually uncommon so hopefully yours will come back clear but it's no comfort to you at the moment.

If it is subungal melanoma the treatment is the same as for all melanoma - more surgery (a wide local excision WLE) to remove further surrounding tissue to ensure all cancer cells have been mopped up - however the WLE won't be carried out if they took a much wider area of tissue on the first occasion, which sounds to have happened with you. Dependant on the depth the melanoma has grown will depend if they offer a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) - if the melanoma is more than 1mm in depth they may offer it. This is where they inject a dye into the area where the mole was & they track where the dye travels in the lymphatic system. The first node it shows in will be the Sentinel Node & they will remove it to see if any cells have spread into the lymphatic system. All this then enables them to determine the Stage of the melanoma. If there is no spread to the Sentinel node and/or the mole was not deep, it's classed as Stage 1 or 2 - early stage. Treatment then is regular checks for a period of time to ensure there is no recurrence or later spread. All this will also apply to the second mole you had removed. If it's spread to the lymphatic nodes but no further then it's Stage 3, a spread to other parts of the body (organs etc) is Stage 4. Stage 3 patients may have a full surgical removal of the nodes (mine were removed from my groin & pelvis) to try & stop any further spread. All Stage 3 patients now (since a year ago) also have a year of adjuvant drug therapy - drugs to help stop it coming back. Stage 4 patients get this therapy too.

Research & treatment for melanoma has been moving quickly in the last few years - I was Stage 1 in 1996 & Stage 3 since 2009 so I have seen many changes, all for the better, since I was diagnosed. These drug therapies are starting to show great success so it's not as desperate as it once was. 

You now need to distract yourself whilst waiting for the results - hopefully it will be nearer 4 weeks than 9 weeks - so keep busy, do lots of things with your family, pamper/be kind to yourself & don't Dr Google - it can't keep up with all the good stuff that's happening in the melanoma world and it will just depress you. Good luck and please let us know how you get on. If you want to chat just send me a Friend request.

Angie x

hi angie! 

Thank you so much for your response I really wasn’t expecting anyone to reply! Your words of encouragement are a massive help along with your knowledge. I was back at the hospital today to check on the skin graft and I had a massive breakdown after seeing it (vain I know) I think it’s all getting on top of me at the moment and I know I should try stay positive. I am so glad to here that you are doing ok and it’s nice to speak to someone who understands how I’m feeling! I will keep you updated thank you so much.

louise. X

Hi Louise,

It is not vain at all. Any invasive surgery is traumatic both physically & mentally. Add to that a skin graft so that's two traumas to deal with. Be kind to yourself, give yourself time to come to terms with the surgery and the wait for the results and to heal. We all have to release our feelings & the medical staff have dealt with it all before so don't worry about having a meltdown in front of them - you wouldn't be human if you didn't!

Angie x

Hi,

I just wondered how you got on and whether it was melanoma? I've been referred on the 2 week wait to have this surgery and I've also had a stage 1a melanoma. So I have that sickening feeling x

Hi GGT12,

I'm sorry to hear you are under this stress again, especially having already been diagnosed with melanoma before.

Subungual melanoma is rare - it accounts for only 5% of melanoma diagnoses and of those, the majority are found in those of African, Asian or Oriental ethnicity. It would also be very rare for someone to be diagnosed with two different types of primary melanoma - I'm assuming your Stage 1 melanoma was superficial spreading melanoma (a mole on your skin)? 

So hopefully the dermatologist will be able to put your mind at rest but may still suggest removing the nail to make sure! If I can be of any help, a chat or for advice, I've sent you a friend request so that we can private message. Good luck with your appointment and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)