Nail Cancer

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi, I have developed two black lines on the nail of my big toe. I currently have a nail infection that i discovered a few months ago and I'm treating it. I want to believe that its just splinter haemorrhages from filling and pulling at the nail (i used tiny scissor to lift part of the nail up). But in really freaking out its nail melanoma, keep reading about it and looking at pictures. There seems to be another black line at the edge, near the nail fold. Has anyone experienced this?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi louise. Have you had a doctor confirm that it's an infection? I have to ask this question because it can carry some weight. Are you caucasian or darker skinned? The reason i ask is because melanoma under the nail is alot more common in darker skinned people. Only roughly 1% of caucasian people will get melanoma under the nail. Yep, it's very rare, but that doesn't mean to be complacent about it. I have a black 'patch' underneath my right toe that my gp wants to have a look at, meaning biopsy,but even he told me that melanoma under the nail is quite rare. Get it checked out just to be safe though. Good luck.

    • Posted

      Hi, no I haven't had a doctor confirm that its an infection, it was my sister that sister said it was as she had one similar. At first it was just a bit yellow and crumbly at the edge if the nail, but then I started clipping the nail and filling it right down and used tiny scissor to lift part of the nail up. I'm hoping that's what caused the marks. They don't start at the cuticle, they are like half way up the nail to the edge. I'm caucasian btw.

    • Posted

      Hi. There's every chance it's just an infection but i would still get it checked out just to be safe. The fact that you are caucasion is a good thing cos as i mentioned in my last post, melanoma under the nail is extremely rare in white people. Of course, nothing's impossible but it's unlikely it will be a melanoma, but i'm not a doctor so if anything just to hopefully give you peace of mind, still get it looked at. Once again, good luck.

  • Posted

    Louise 11056. Hi Louise. I don't want to scare you, but I kept getting infection in the side of my foot. It turned out that I had poor circulation and my toes started going black. I also had cramps in my calves. My doctors failed to diagnose the problem for two yrs. I ended up having to have two toes amputated because I had peripheral artery disease that had been not diagnosed. I also had to have artery

    operations. Please see a podiatrist and get the infection taken care of. He will prescribe antibiotics. I doubt that cancer is the problem. Hopefully you don't have poor circulation. Best wishes.

    harrishill

  • Posted

    Symptoms

    brown or black streaks in the nail without any known injury.

    streaks on the nails that increase in size.

    a bruise on the nail that will not heal or move up as the fingernail grows.

    fingernails or toenails that separate from the nail bed.

    darkening skin next to the nail.

    a nail that bleeds or develops a nodule

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.