Streak under thumbnail – very scared

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Streak under thumbnail – very scared

  • Post
    • August 29, 2015 at 5:41 am
    Bapa
    Participant

      Hi

      i have a red – light brownish streak on my thumb nail – it is towards left side, not from the cuticle but starts at the curved outer line of the White lunula which is not affected. It's been there for about 4 months I have white skin. Took a while to get dermatologist appointment – finally he said yesterday we need to watch it and to come back in 10 weeks, is he suspecting melanoma? If yes, then 10 weeks seems like a long time…Should I ask for biopsy earlier? He said it was longitudinal something I sadly forgot the exact name. I feel very worried! 

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    • Replies
        • August 29, 2015 at 12:10 pm
        Linny
        Participant

          It sounds like the doctor wants to see if it will grow out with the nail, hence the 10 week followup. Hopefully he/she either took measurements or marked the top and bottom of the streak. If the streak grows with the nail, you're OK. If it doesn't grow out with the nail, then further evaluation will be necessary.

          It'll be a nerve-wracking wait. Try to hang in there.

          • August 29, 2015 at 12:10 pm
          Linny
          Participant

            It sounds like the doctor wants to see if it will grow out with the nail, hence the 10 week followup. Hopefully he/she either took measurements or marked the top and bottom of the streak. If the streak grows with the nail, you're OK. If it doesn't grow out with the nail, then further evaluation will be necessary.

            It'll be a nerve-wracking wait. Try to hang in there.

            • August 29, 2015 at 12:10 pm
            Linny
            Participant

              It sounds like the doctor wants to see if it will grow out with the nail, hence the 10 week followup. Hopefully he/she either took measurements or marked the top and bottom of the streak. If the streak grows with the nail, you're OK. If it doesn't grow out with the nail, then further evaluation will be necessary.

              It'll be a nerve-wracking wait. Try to hang in there.

              • August 29, 2015 at 12:48 pm
              stars
              Participant

                I think the main thing is that you are monitoring this. It doesn't really sound like subungual melanoma to me, but it's impossible to say:

                http://www.dermnetnz.org/hair-nails-sweat/melanoma-nailunit.html

                I did read somewhere that subungual melanoma will always start in the nail matrix or nailfold as this is the only place there are melanocytes (so if something is only in the nail bed, not touching side or bottom, it is unlikely to be melanoma. Maybe your doc thought this:

                http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21668031

                Why not give them a call and ask rather than stress for 10 weeks?

                • August 29, 2015 at 12:48 pm
                stars
                Participant

                  I think the main thing is that you are monitoring this. It doesn't really sound like subungual melanoma to me, but it's impossible to say:

                  http://www.dermnetnz.org/hair-nails-sweat/melanoma-nailunit.html

                  I did read somewhere that subungual melanoma will always start in the nail matrix or nailfold as this is the only place there are melanocytes (so if something is only in the nail bed, not touching side or bottom, it is unlikely to be melanoma. Maybe your doc thought this:

                  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21668031

                  Why not give them a call and ask rather than stress for 10 weeks?

                  • August 29, 2015 at 12:48 pm
                  stars
                  Participant

                    I think the main thing is that you are monitoring this. It doesn't really sound like subungual melanoma to me, but it's impossible to say:

                    http://www.dermnetnz.org/hair-nails-sweat/melanoma-nailunit.html

                    I did read somewhere that subungual melanoma will always start in the nail matrix or nailfold as this is the only place there are melanocytes (so if something is only in the nail bed, not touching side or bottom, it is unlikely to be melanoma. Maybe your doc thought this:

                    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21668031

                    Why not give them a call and ask rather than stress for 10 weeks?

                    • August 31, 2015 at 1:27 pm
                    Bapa
                    Participant

                      Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

                      yes it did sound like erytronychia, he was worried as I had lots of UVA treatments for psoriasis…

                      and im a blood O type… Apparently both not good in this case?

                      i only have one line on my thumb. 

                      God bless you both!

                       

                      • August 31, 2015 at 1:27 pm
                      Bapa
                      Participant

                        Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

                        yes it did sound like erytronychia, he was worried as I had lots of UVA treatments for psoriasis…

                        and im a blood O type… Apparently both not good in this case?

                        i only have one line on my thumb. 

                        God bless you both!

                         

                        • August 31, 2015 at 1:27 pm
                        Bapa
                        Participant

                          Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

                          yes it did sound like erytronychia, he was worried as I had lots of UVA treatments for psoriasis…

                          and im a blood O type… Apparently both not good in this case?

                          i only have one line on my thumb. 

                          God bless you both!

                           

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