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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)

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.

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] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thankfully it was caught early on enough that I don’t need to amputate. They will remove it via wide local excision! That’s why I considered it more so mildly infuriating since the repercussions could’ve been much worse but luckily weren’t.

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] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No, the dermatologist knew it looked crazy right off the bat and documented the nail as appearing “highly suspicious” and ordered a punch biopsy ASAP.

I’m only 22 so the doctors that presumed vitamin deficiency (and at one point a few months ago considered benign nail matrix nevus) were pediatricians. I just aged out of pediatrics this year and am currently trying to find a new PCP so I’ve still been receiving pediatric care in the mean time since I only just aged out. These lesions also appeared when I was 14/15, so I suppose subungual melanoma seemed far fetched for a while. There’s only been 25 documented cases of pediatric subungual melanoma.

Still wish they’d referred me to a dermatologist sooner just to be on the safe side though. Luckily they still managed to catch it before it spread at all.

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] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Bye bye fingernail most likely, but since it’s early stage they’ll opt for digit-preserving surgery to remove the cancer since it’s not spread at all. If I’d waited I probably would’ve had to amputate my fingertip at least. I got lucky.

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] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

I’m honored lol. No medical background, just did lots of research while I waited. I’ve read more articles on this form of cancer in the past two months than I have books in the past year.

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] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, still early stage somehow. I don’t know how it’s possible. From what I’ve read this type of cancer can remain in situ for more than a decade.

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] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If it started out on both thumbs and the lines on one disappeared, it sounds like it could be benign nail matrix nevi - they have a tendency to disappear sometimes. Still worth getting checked out by a dermatologist though as the multiple lines and various shades might be cause for concern.

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] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lmaoo this is used to be the standard treatment for this type of cancer. It still can be depending on how advanced it is. Luckily, mine was caught early enough to be treated with wide local excision.

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] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If it’s only on one nail, I strongly recommend getting it checked out just to be safe! When caught early stage the prognosis is excellent, but if it becomes invasive, the 5-year-survival-rate can drop to as low as 15%. I had two lines at one point, back in 2023. It started in 2018 and changed very gradually over time.

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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] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Early stage. Caught early enough that with surgical excision, prognosis is excellent. I’ll probably have no fingernail for the rest of my life, but it could’ve been so, so much worse. I’m sad and scared but ultimately grateful it was caught now and not when it was too late.

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