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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To worry I might have nail cancer?

163 replies

Sadandstripey · 14/01/2019 00:16

I’m really anxious about getting cancer and because of that I don’t trust my own judgement properly.

I’ve got a dark brown stripe running lengthways across my big toe nail. It has some darker pinprick spots in and isn’t a straight line. I can’t remember hurting my toe at all. The stripe has been there since October. I’ve now googled and scared myself silly it’s cancer. Would IBU to see a GP about this?

OP posts:

newnameforthis7 · 16/01/2019 20:40

I think (HOPE) it's fungus.

Good luck at the docs!

WideBlueSky · 16/01/2019 20:41

The GP didn’t mention fungus. But did say the line follows the curve of my nail perfectly. Is that more or less likely to be fungus?

newnameforthis7 · 16/01/2019 20:45

I am not sure, but it is fairly likely it is fungus (not definite.) I hope it is.

Original poster

Sadandstripey · 16/01/2019 20:45

The GP didn’t mention fungus. But did say the line follows the curve of my nail perfectly. Is that more or less likely to be fungus?

This was me using my other username, sorry.

OP posts:

Ikeameatballs · 16/01/2019 20:47

I’d bet my house that this isn’t subungal melanoma. It looks like damage/blood under the nail. Toe nails grow super quickly. In June I completed a 6 month course of anti fungals for toe nail infection. I completed the course because the new nail coming in at the nail bed was clear, the ends of at least half of my toe nails (inc big toes) still show fungal damage because it hasn’t grown out yet. So over a year since I started the treatment.

Hope you get a professional answer soon from dermatology via your GP and then further help with your anxiety.

Ikeameatballs · 16/01/2019 20:48

I meant super slowly, NOT super quickly!!!

anniehm · 16/01/2019 20:49

I've had similar from new hiking boots - just bruising, took best bit of a year to grow out. Currently growing out a false nail vrs cardboard box injury on my hand - 3 months and only half gone (covered with polish now!)

Ourmaud · 16/01/2019 20:56

Dh is currently being tested for sublingual melanoma and it’s definitely a vertical rather than horizontal stripe. Yours looks like a blood blister on the nail bed. disclaimer absolutely no medical background to go off, only dh’s gammy toe

Ourmaud · 16/01/2019 20:59

Which he’s refusing to let me photograph for comparison 🤬

Original poster

Sadandstripey · 16/01/2019 21:06

Ourmaud I hope your DH is okay.

I know it’s normally a vertical stripe but can’t find anything that says it can’t be horizontal.

OP posts:

Phew999 · 16/01/2019 21:13

I have just been through this exact situation, although mine was vertical, not horizontal. My GP checked it out, said it didn’t look serious but to come back in 4 weeks. Went back and nothing had changed so she referred me to a dermatologist. Just went this week and it turns out it’s some kind of infection and not subungal melanoma (I had convinced myself it was thanks to Google and spent days and days in tears). Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious.

Original poster

Sadandstripey · 16/01/2019 21:35

Phew999 did you have to have a biopsy or where dermatologists able to tell by sight? Glad everything turned out ok for you.

OP posts:

Babooshka · 16/01/2019 21:45

Hi op, I'm a serial lurker (had to reset my password to log on properly and post) but I had to respond to your post because I have been going through the exact same thing as you (mine is also a horizontal mark and I can't remember hurting it) . I've attached a pic, it's gross. Like you, I have spent days Googling, in fact I wasted half of my Christmas break searching and searching medical scripts about subungal melanoma, I probably know enough now to qualify as a dermatologist!

Anyway, I plucked up the courage to see my GP (I hate going as I'm always scared they'll confirm my worst fears) and he examined it carefully but was not concerned at all about it being a melanoma. He did take nail clippings that will be sent off to test for a fungal infection (not had results yet) and he ran some fasting blood tests to rule out anaemia as this can cause unexplained bruising (which left me panicking that I had leukaemia - seriously, health anxiety is awful!) He said if he had any doubt he'd be making an urgent referral. Blood tests came back clear.

I'm still feeling on and off anxious about it but deep down I know it's unlikely to be sinister - firstly, nail melanomas are very rare and secondly, those that do occur are usually vertical. I think in extremely rare occasions they can be horizontal but you'd usually see discolouration around the skin area too. I took comfort from not really being able to find much online about horizontal marks. I'm actually jealous of yours as it looks less ugly than mine and isn't anywhere near the edges! It looks very much like blood under the nail from all the research I've done

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I totally understand your anxiety and hope you can take some comfort knowing that you're not alone - I felt really sad reading your thread and knowing there was someone else out there worrying incessantly about their toe nail like I am!I know it's impossible but please try not to worry. I think you'd have had a call by now if the Dermatologist by now if there was a thing to worry about. Take care and please keep us posted.

Babooshka · 16/01/2019 21:48

Sorry for the typos in my post, I'm typing on a tiny iPhone screen!

trooth · 16/01/2019 21:49

Hi, I'm a nail technician and I think you've done the correct thing by seeing your GP for peace of mind. The GP/and the dermatologist are best placed to advise and you are absolutely not wasting thier time if you are worried!
Honestly I think it looks like blood under the nail. Possibly from trauma. A couple of my toe nails have had previous trauma and now take forever to grow so it may look like it's not moving much if at all! (I did gel polish on my toes in November, all have grown out except 2 which still look new!). It doesn't look like any examples of subungal melanoma that I have ever seen. Please try not to worry, wait until you've spoken to your dermatologist and for your sanity stay off Google!

Original poster

Sadandstripey · 16/01/2019 22:03

Babooshka I’m sorry you are also suffering from anxiety. Thank you for sharing your toe picture. Hope the GP comes back with good news.

OP posts:

Babooshka · 16/01/2019 22:15

Thank you sad. On the whole I'm not worried now as the only news I'm waiting for is whether it's a fungal infection or not. If it is, he'll prescribe a fungal treatment. He said if it isn't then it's just a case of waiting for the bruise to grow out (we can damage our nails quite easily without even knowing about it but I was adamant I couldn't recall hurting it which is why he ordered blood tests).

I hope you get an answer soon too - it's no fun feeling anxious and worried, it takes over your life. I'd bet a lot of money that yours is absolutely fine, it looks nothing like the pics I was coming across and I spent a LOT of time Googling! Try not to waste any more time doing this as it really is completely pointless. I'm so good at advising other people, wish I could listen to myself!

Phew999 · 16/01/2019 22:28

The dermatologist was able to tell by sight (well, using some kind of magnifying glass) mentioning Hutchinson’s sign- when the mark goes in to the surrounding tissue. Mine didn’t which was a good indicator it wasn’t likely to be cancer.
Will also mention that mine did finally start to fade a little by the time I saw the dermatologist (my appointment was cancelled a few times so it was 6 weeks from being referred by my GP).

MrsEricBana · 16/01/2019 22:43

I had something similar that was from trauma and took ages to go as it had to grow off the end of my toe as it were. GP was unsure so sent me to dermatologist who was unsure too but not worried. He took photo on my phone and called me back after 6 weeks to compare and had moved down a bit and not spread. As others have said, subungual melanoma is usually a dark line starting under cuticle and running straight down nail. Having said that my mother had a brown line down nail and was sent straight to GP (who referred to hospital) by podiatrist and even that, which looked alarming per Dr Google, was nothing. Even if hospital does want to see you it doesn't mean it'll be anything bad. (In general health there's a thread with the whole dark line under nail thing- that def did look alarming but turned out not to be after biopsy etc). I think, honestly, assume ok but obviously ring GP in a few days to check if you haven't heard.

Lisabel · 16/01/2019 22:53

Hi OP,

I think it looks like it's probably caused by trauma to the nail- do you run? or do any sport? Bruises under the nail seem to take forever to clear up.

There are probably lots of different possible causes of this so just keep that in mind.

I had a cancer scare where I was sent under the 2-week rule for suspected 'inflammatory breast cancer' (which would have been stage 3/4) and was absolutely terrified back in Oct/Nov so I know how awful it feels but just bear in mind that it's much more likely to be caused by something else!

Ourmaud · 16/01/2019 23:35

@Sadandstripey I really don’t want to sound blasé about the seriousness of it because cancer is terrifying for all affected but in the cancer scale of seriousness and treatment SM seems to be a pretty simple one to treat. There’s a well established treatment protocol and rates or recurrence seem low. Good luck with your dermatologist- we get the biopsy results next Monday and when it’s good news perhaps dh will she’d the vaguely saintly attitude he’s had the last few weeks.

Original poster

Sadandstripey · 17/01/2019 15:18

My best friend told me today she had a mole thing that needed checking out and photo was sent to dermotlogist. They phoned her he next working day to say it was all fine. It’s obviously been longer with me- don’t know if length of time means anything or if I’m reading into it too much.

Maybe they just didn’t have a busy week when her photo was sent. This is why I hate anxiety. I read things into that can’t be read into.

OP posts:

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 17/01/2019 15:26

HI @Sadandstripe I also had a dodgy mole checked out recently and this was also subject to the '2 weeks' target. GP sent a photo of it to a dermatologist and called me back within 45 mins to say they wanted me to come in for an outpatient appointment.

He also said if I didn't hear from him within 2 hours I wouldn't be called back at all. So it may be that no news is good news?

Is it worth following up with your surgery to check in case they follow a similar protocol?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 17/01/2019 15:28

PS: The '2 weeks' target is that they have to get you in front of a dermatologist for first outpatient consultation within 2 weeks of the initial appointment with your GP, it's not having to wait 2 weeks to hear about the next step.

JudasPrudy · 17/01/2019 15:34

@Sadandstripey if it's anything serious they get back to you urgently, so no news is good news. If you had cancer you'd have other symptoms by now. As my health visitor told me when I was anxious about my babies health, you must look at the full picture. If you're a healthy weight, good colour, feeling fine then you're unlikely to have anything seriously wrong.

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