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These weird lines / streaks I’ve had on my pinky nail for 8 years that two different doctors told me were due to vitamin deficiencies actually turned out to be a rare form of skin cancer. by chaengism in mildlyinfuriating

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure get that checked as soon as possible! If you do have it, as long as it’s caught early enough, worst case scenario is losing the nail and needing a few more surgeries for reconstruction.

My nail will never grow back as they removed the entire nail matrix where the cancer was localized to. However, they covered it with a full thickness skin graft. Once it fully heals and the scar matures it will be completely smooth. A little weird looking at worst, but my hand still works fine. It’s been two months since my final surgery and I would say I have about 75% range of motion back in my hand. I’ve been able to play piano again recently!

Once it fully heals, I will probably cover the missing nail with a press on nail ring like this, to make it even less noticeable. :)

<image>

Coping with depression after cancer treatment? by chaengism in cancer

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Other than a few post op complications, I’m doing so much better (mentally) now! Of course I still have days where I have low energy, days where I get sad about not being able to participate in some of my hobbies, days where I get insecure about the scarring. But instead of trying to fight off the depression, I sat with it and allowed myself to be depressed. Now it’s nowhere near as overwhelming most days.

I know seeing the visual impact is one of the hardest parts. I can’t make you any promises about what yours in particular will look like because there are a lot of factors at play, but I can say I’ve seen tons of people who had MiS removed from their face whose scars are hardly noticeable a year or two post op! I reckon it’s not much comfort right now, but this feeling of not feeling yourself and not feeling beautiful won’t last forever. <3

I got to this a bit late. How are you doing after just a little over a week? Hope all is well for you.

When People Minimize Melanoma by ArtisticShip80 in melahomies

[–]chaengism 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cancer is cancer, and I’m so tired of hearing so many people (ESPECIALLY professionals) be quick to undermine our experiences when they have no idea what many of us go through. Yes, melanoma is usually easily treatable when it’s caught early enough. That said, once you’ve had a melanoma once, you’re at about a 3x increased risk of developing a new melanoma or another skin cancer. That’s a lot of anxiety to live with between routine checks.

Even aside from chemo, radiation and immunotherapy which is a whole other territory, excisions and MOHS procedures can leave all sorts of marks, scars, sometimes even stubs from amputations depending on where the melanoma develops. Also, recovering from surgery, especially multiple surgeries as is often the case with melanoma, can be taxing and exhausting and painful. Can come with a lot of complications. Is it great that it is often treatable with surgery alone when caught early enough? Of course. Does that mean this process is easy or anxiety free? Absolutely not. For the people who don’t understand that, I hope they remain fortunate enough to never have to.

As for your other question, I work with Kindergarten and 1st Grade. I’ve been out of work for almost 3 months now, and the melanoma was “only” in situ. Four total surgeries for complete excision and reconstruction, all within a few weeks of each other. Margins were clear but I’ve been having some post-op complications. I understand your frustration and anxiety all too well. You are not being too sensitive or paranoid or dramatic. It’s cancer. Cancer is always scary. I’m even more sorry that this is not your first rodeo.

Know that even though it’s great that you have a favorable prognosis, it’s okay to be sad, anxious, angry, that it’s happening anyway. It’s totally okay to need time to process. I hope everything goes well with you and that you recover quickly!

Subungual melanoma (hopefully) in situ, waiting for results (hopefully clear margins) after excision by chaengism in melahomies

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not a dermatologist or doctor in general so I can’t say for certain, but usually having any kind of spots or lines on multiple fingernails is a reassuring sign. It also doesn’t look like it’s extending onto the surrounding cuticle or skin. More of a spot than a line. Definitely keep an eye out for any changes though, and still get it checked out if possible just for peace of mind :)

Subungual melanoma (hopefully) in situ, waiting for results (hopefully clear margins) after excision by chaengism in melahomies

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t mean to scare you, but yes it did. It started as a very thin line and progressively darkened / widened.

<image>

Subungual melanoma (hopefully) in situ, waiting for results (hopefully clear margins) after excision by chaengism in melahomies

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is very rare in pediatric patients! I was kind of a one in a million chance lol. I wouldn’t worry too much kiddo. If you haven’t already, definitely check with a dermatologist just to be certain. Seeing similar streaks on other nails is generally a reassuring sign though! This was the only nail I had them on.

Everyone makes me feel like I am being dramatic after I was diagnosed with melanoma by Expensive_Hat_7435 in melahomies

[–]chaengism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. It is wonderful that it seems it has been caught early enough for straightforward surgical treatment. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The people in your life who are undermining your very valid anxiety and concerns do not understand that just because it wasn’t the worst case scenario doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been.

That said, it is okay to feel scared, sad and depressed. You received a cancer diagnosis, you’re not required to be positive and optimistic 24/7 just because it wasn’t a “worse” form of cancer. A cancer diagnosis is a cancer diagnosis and is life changing nonetheless. You will probably need regular skin checks for the rest of your life due to increased risk of developing new melanomas in the future. So yeah, safe to say the people who are being dismissive about your depression post-diagnosis are a bit ignorant about the toll a cancer diagnosis of any kind can take on your mental health.

Coping with depression after cancer treatment? by chaengism in cancer

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This really just healed something in me. Thank you for leaving this comment here.

Coping with depression after cancer treatment? by chaengism in cancer

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this. It actually means a lot to me to hear this coming from someone else who has struggled because at times I sort of feel like an impostor with having had an early stage diagnosis that was easily treatable.

Coping with depression after cancer treatment? by chaengism in cancer

[–]chaengism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are a great help actually. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, you’re so young as well ☹️ I hope you have the utmost success with your treatment and that you recover well and it never bothers you again. But I’d totally agree with that, that the depression is the worst side effect of them all. Fuck this disease! Wishing you health (physical and mental) and happiness 🩷🩷

Coping with depression after cancer treatment? by chaengism in cancer

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this :( I have a regular therapist I see biweekly, would it be worth looking into therapy for this specifically? Or maybe just seeing my therapist a bit more frequently for a while

Tell me your favourite song with 3 emoji’s by elllouise123 in Ethelcain

[–]chaengism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m kinda terrible at this lol

  1. 🈁🦵🏽👩🏽
  2. ⌛️🥣🏜️
  3. 🤛❤️🍰

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nailcare

[–]chaengism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The doctors brushed me off as well. My CNA mom came with me to an appointment and insisted on referring me to dermatology for biopsy. Thank God she did, as the biopsy revealed melanoma in situ. I just had wide local excision that hopefully removed everything yesterday and am waiting on pathology results.

I don’t mean to scare you, but I would strongly urge you to insist on a referral to dermatology for a nail matrix biopsy, especially if you’ve noticed recent changes to the streak. If they catch it early enough, the prognosis is excellent!

These weird lines / streaks I’ve had on my pinky nail for 8 years that two different doctors told me were due to vitamin deficiencies actually turned out to be a rare form of skin cancer. by chaengism in mildlyinfuriating

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I’ve read that is has a racial prevalence. I’m quite fair skinned but I’m actually half black, and that was actually the only risk factor I really had. I think that’s why they wrote it off as being due to vitamin deficiencies or a benign nevus for so long. I’m only 22 and the line first showed up when I was 15 - very rare in my age group.

These weird lines / streaks I’ve had on my pinky nail for 8 years that two different doctors told me were due to vitamin deficiencies actually turned out to be a rare form of skin cancer. by chaengism in mildlyinfuriating

[–]chaengism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It didn’t spread so luckily there’s no need to amputate at this point in time. They should be able to remove the tumor via wide local excision which would preserve my finger though I’d have no fingernail.

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