black area on big toe nail - is it melanoma? - Cancer: Skin Message Board

dewing · 01-29-2009, 02:19 PM

please help, any advice would be greatly appreciated. My partner went to his GP this week as his large toe nail has a black patch on it but he's not sure how long it's been there. He has now been referred to the hospital in just under 2 weeks time, i'm so worried it's cancer, i had a look at it with a magnifying glass last night and it fits all the descrption of a cancerous melanoma, we've got a worrying 2 week wait

mahnee · 01-31-2009, 01:32 PM

More than likely it is an injury. But one way to determine this is to watch it as the nail grows out. If the spot grows out with the nail - then it is an injury. If it does NOT grow out with the nail, it should be checked.

The one downside to this is that it takes time for the nail to grow and you could drive yourself crazy with worry. But remember that a biopsy on this is not going to be fun. So if you can, let it grow out some to determine if it is an injury or not.

Hoping for the best.

AnnD · 01-31-2009, 01:39 PM

hummmmm that is a strange place to have cancer. Is it right on top of the nail or is it under the nail. or is in on the skin around the nail. Sometimes if you drop something on your foot it will cause a black spot(old dried blood looks black) under the nail bed and it there until that nail grows out. The nail itself is not a living tissue so if this tiny black thing in right on top of the nail I would guess it is not cancer.

mahnee · 01-31-2009, 01:50 PM

Melanoma is very common in fact on the nail bed - also on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

dewing · 01-31-2009, 02:50 PM

we think it's under the nail which means it's on the skin which means if the nail grows it won't make a difference, i'm so worried as you just don't expect anything nasty to grow on the toe do you? i just hope that it is nothing serious