Possible Melanoma - terrified :-(

[CagedBirdwithoutAKey]

I found a small brown pigmentation on my left-big toe-nail a few days ago, and thought not much of it. Until I Googled it and scared myself silly.

My DR has referred me to the 2-week fast-track service for Dermatology to have them assess it further.

I'm a single mum of 3 little ones (their dad passed away 2 years ago) so I'm absolutely petrified of not being here for them

It's not a 'line' or band, and it's not painful, which is what makes it even more scary, as surely if it were fungal or trauma, it would hurt somewhat?

Has anybody else experienced anything similar or know of anybody who has gone through Subungual (nail) Melanoma?

Hello,

First of all don't panic. I've been there and I know just how utterly petrified you are.

A few years ago I had a dodgy looking mole assessed as a fast track two week appointment. I was terrified. The first thing they will do is take photos very very close up and measure the mile. Mine wasn't on a toe nail but on my arm so a little different.

Things moved very quickly after that. I then had it cut out and sent off for analysis (a quick procedure that lasted about 30 minutes). The within a week the results came back and I was called in for a meeting.

Mine was a melenonoma at stage 2. I went numb I cried and I was convinced I would die.

Everything went okay. I had another two small operations and they got it all out. No more cancer no more worries.

I have been cancer free for 7 years.

This will be okay. X

My dh got an urgent referral to a dermatologist for a black mark on his toenail. He got a call from dermatologist within 30 mins of leaving the gp surgery and 6 hours later he was seen. He was told immediately that it was not a melanoma but nail trauma.
Really hope yours is harmless too .

I’m sure it is nail trauma, but good that it will be looked at quickly.

My husband had this - a black mole looking mark in the middle of his nail. Referred by gp under 2 week wait - consultant confirmed it absolutely nothing to worry about, was just nail damage and disappeared within the month.

My husband had this - a black mole looking mark in the middle of his nail. Referred by gp under 2 week wait - consultant confirmed it absolutely nothing to worry about, was just nail damage and disappeared within the month.

@indecisivewoman81 I'm so happy you're 7 years C-free As you know, it's just the wait now

@LovingLola this is very reassuring, I hope your DH is doing well

@Beachrules thank you for your reassurance, this helps

My dh had a dodgy looking dark stripe on the outside of his big toe nail. I remember the googling and the panic well. He had a biopsy (ouch) - and it turned out to be fungal . There are a couple of previous threads on here on the same subject and they were reassuring to read as most if not all posters were saying theirs turned out to be nothing.

Oh and dh didn't have any pain by the way so I don't think you can go by that. (Well - not until after the biopsy!)

Another here to give you a hand hold and a happy story of malignant melanoma, which was treated with a small op ( local anaesthetic) and all has been fine since

You can do this xx

Just don't google - it can be alarming. Good luck!

The fact that you’ve been given a two week wait ‘suspected cancer’ referral doesn’t necessarily mean that the GP thinks you definitely, or even probably have melanoma.

Often, they just don’t want to be the one to make the final call - quite fairly, they’d rather be safe and defer to the judgement of a specialist who deals with skin cancer day in, day out.

Just wanted to pop on and update (as it frustrates me when others don't, and it could potentially help someone else).

Anywho, I have my appointment with the Derm team tomorrow; which is great, as my GP only referred me last Thursday!

I'm really nervous but have my fingers and toes crossed (shouldn't really talk about the toes!)

I will pop back again with an update tomorrow.

Thank you for your kind and reassuring replies so far

Hope it is reassuring.

Colleague had thid too. Turned out to be a fungal thing which she still has about 2 years later. Deep breaths its very likely to be ok.

this*

Hey So I just got back from the hospital and great news! It is just trauma! I'm so, so relieved

Thank you all again for your well wishes and messages

that's great!

That's brilliant news!

Hurray!