Hi, I'm in a similar situation to your husband. I had what I thought was a bruise appear on my big toenail overnight about 6 weeks ago. I hadn't had any trauma about it but wasn't concerned so did nothing. Then about 9 days ago, I saw my consultant dermatologist for my ongoing psoriasis treatment and she noticed it and was very concerned. She told me that I need an urgent biopsy by a plastic surgeon and that she would be referring me on the 2 week cancer pathway. I have my appointment with the plastic surgeon tomorrow.I told her that I had PMI but she told me to stick with the NHS until I get a diagnosis as she suspected it would be quicker as a lot of the private clinics close for 2 weeks over Christmas and some of the private hospitals currently have reduced clinics as they are sharing premises with NHS clinics due to CoVid. Therefore it might be worth you husband getting an NHS referral too.

Hi Tracey

thank you so much for your reply. He's ringing the private insurance this morning to see what they have and if nothing soon he will also ring the nhs gp to try and get a referral. 
mite frustrating that we will have to go via dermatology first to get a referral to plastics. Did you wait long between the two referrals for your appointment? I feel it's going to be weeks before we get anywhere. Did you have to have Covid test before they booked you in for biopsy? 
 

sending lots of luck for your appointment. Really hope it's nothing serious. Please update when you can. 
 

lisa 

Thanks for replying Lisa, that is reassuring. He did explain about the surgery today so I suppose that was worthwhile. I hadn't really thought much about that part as I was so disappointed! He said that as long as the rules don't change again - we are already in tier 4 - a CoVid test is not required as it is done under a local anaesthetic as a day case. They inject a number of times around the nail to numb it and then remove it. Sometimes they can tell immediately that it is nothing suspicious - if it is all on the nail and nothing on the skin - but if anything is in the skin, they will shave off some for the biopsy.

I'm glad you are feeling less anxious and I hope you can enjoy Christmas x

That doesn't sound too bad under local Tracey and you may get some reassurance immediately when they remove the nail I think today because you were psyched up to get it over with and it didn't happen it's been a huge disappointment for you. It's a shame they weren't clear before hand so you knew what to expect today. Hope you hear something this week in terms of a date for the biopsy. I'll let you know how we get on on Wednesday evening. I don't expect we will get any reassurance from the appointment but at least things are moving. Apparently the consultant also works for an nhs hospital so hoping this helps in terms of availability

Lisa 

Good luck to your husband for Wednesday. Please report back x

Hi Tracey

just a quick reply being Xmas Eve but my husbands appointment with the private consultant went well. He came away reassured for now. He doesn't think that it's melanoma as it starts half way up the toenail and doesn't follow the classic direction or shape of melanoma. He had a really good look with magnifying equipment and said he isn't concerned. He's asked us to measure it / photograph and he will see him again in 3 months. He said he is expecting it to grow out as the nail grows but if it starts to grow outwards in a linear direction to ring him and he will get hiM straight in to have it checked.  He didn't want to rush in with a biopsy for worry of damaging the nail plate unnecessarily when he didn't feel it was worrisome. He said if it turns out to be melanoma it's been caught extremely early and being monitored. Although we will feel more reassured if it starts to grow out and we see this for ourselves, we feel reassured enough now to enjoy Xmas and see what the new year brings. We have a 2 week rule appointment on 6th jan on nhs with a dermatologist if anything else  happens / changes and feel confident knowing we can ring up and go back if anything changes.  The derm seemed really knowledgeable and reeked off so many things it could be and he said he's seen hundreds of nails over the years with different diagnoses so we feel reassured that he's experienced and that this has only appeared in the last 2-3 weeks and doesn't look alarming at the minute. Happy to monitor and won't hesitate to ask for biopsy if anything changes.  I hope that you are doing ok and manage to have a nice Christmas. Keep us posted how it goes with the biopsy. 
 

Lisa x

Hi Tracey

ooh defo look at some new PJs then and some pampery stuff. I hear great reviews about mindfulness and calm apps on your phone too for trying to focus on the now and not panic thinking too far ahead before you actually know if there's even something to worry about. It's good news that there's been no change. We were told that if it was melanoma it would be really early stage and the fact that he's not following it up for 3 months is reassuring. The other derm also said that biology tends to move slowly. On the rare chance that you do have melanoma it sounds like it's being biopsied in the early stages which is great when you consider that for many they don't get picked up till sometimes 2 years down the line. We were also told that they tend to keep growing outwards in a linear direction. It's positive that it hasn't changed in 8 weeks.  Try and keep positive mental attitude, ring the hospital tomorrow for an update and if they have no appointment yet ask them to contact you ASAP so you can at least stop worrying about when the appointment will be. I think once you get a date you'll feel less anxious.  If you want to chat just message any time. 
Lisa x 

Hi Lisa, so pleased that the appointment went well and you were reassured. I've been quite good over Christmas and haven't thought about it much but my husband and boys have gone back to work today so I'm home alone and it's all I can think about. I just wish I had a date for the biopsy so I would at least have something to aim for. Feeling very low today. Hope you're both doing ok x

Hi Tracey

I was wondering how you were getting on. I'm pleased you were able to enjoy Christmas and at least put it to the back of your mind for a few days. Distraction and being around people definitely helps shift the focus away from the worry. With today being a Bank Holiday you may not hear today but tomorrow lots of people are back in work as usual so you may get a phone call with a date for early January for the biopsy. The NHS seem to ring with appointments in urgent cases (They gave us our two week rule appt the day they received the referral but thats just to see the dermatologist).  You cant control when the appointmnet will be but what about doing something you can control about the biopsy?  Looking online today and treating yourself some nice new slippers or PJs to wear after the op? You Could also ring the hospital department tomorrow to ask if they have a date for you yet as the not knowing when is making you anxious?   Also I keep telling myself that subungal melanoma is rare. Have you noticed any changes in the mark? - Has it improved any? Grown in size etc? Changes in the nail etc?  

Hi Lisa

Some online shopping sounds like a great distraction. I received some new slippers and dressing gown for Xmas but some new PJs sounds ideal!

I think I will call them tomorrow afternoon if I haven't heard anything just to reassure myself that they have my details.

No changes to the toenail at all. I've worked out that I've had it about 8 weeks now and it hasn't got any bigger or grown up with the nail at all. I haven't got the typical straight line but the discolouration starts at the nail bed on the right side of the nail and goes halfway across  and up with an irregular edge.  It's not painful either but don't know if that's a positive or not!

Thanks for replying. It's nice to chat.

Tracey x

Just had a phone call from the hospital. All surgeries including possible cancer biopsies have been cancelled due to CoVid for the foreseeable future. They have suggested I try private route as well but they are not sure if they will be booking appointments now as last time when they stopped all operations, NHS & Private combined care.  Just feel sick

Just had a phone call from the hospital. All surgeries including possible cancer biopsies have been cancelled due to CoVid for the foreseeable future. They have suggested I try private route as well but they are not sure if they will be booking appointments now as last time when they stopped all operations, NHS & Private combined care.  Just feel sick

Just had a phone call from the hospital. All surgeries including possible cancer biopsies have been cancelled due to CoVid for the foreseeable future. They have suggested I try private route as well but they are not sure if they will be booking appointments now as last time when they stopped all operations, NHS & Private combined care.  Just feel sick