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Acral/nail melanoma questions
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Acral/nail melanoma questions

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Acral/nail melanoma questions

  • Post
    • January 13, 2017 at 11:49 pm
    Michelle820
    Participant

      Hello, I was wondering if anyone has any info on acral melanoma. I have had these medium brown colored bands/streaks on both of my thumbs from for a least a few years if not more. I had googled them in the past and it's extremely difficult to find info on possible benign nail conditions that could mimic acral melanoma. Of course since I had my recent WLE (which was an insitu thankfully) I am scared at every little "suspicious" mole etc.  I was always scared or forgot to show the Derm my nails-and I have had this prior to my recent excision. I do have a check up next Tuesday.  

      Im just curious if these streaks are "common". I am light skinned with brown hair and have tons of freckles and moles. Wish I could post a picture! Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙂

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    • Replies
        • January 14, 2017 at 12:00 am
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          Damage to the matrix, the area at the bottom of the nail under the skin, can cause the nail to permanently have streaks, bumps, waves. If you've ever hurt your thumbs, doesn't always take much force, then that could be the cause. It would be unusual for mel to show up in both thumbs, would really only show up in one nail, so I wouldn't be as worried since it's in both thumbs. Bring it up to your derm on Tuesday, but wouldn't stress too much. Also, acral mel is not very common in light skinned folks, it's actually most common with dark skin and african americans… it's what Bob Marley had and passed away from. Another thing I like to remind myself as well is that if your first mel was cutaneous then if you were to have another one it would be the same type of mel and would appear similarly to your first one. 

            • January 14, 2017 at 12:29 am
            Michelle820
            Participant

              Thanks for your insight! Trying not to google too much-that's what I was thinking…since it's on both thumbs. So hard not to overthink everything:/

              • January 14, 2017 at 1:29 am
              jennunicorn
              Participant

                Totally understand, it's easy for our minds to go places it wouldn't have gone to so easily before.

                • January 14, 2017 at 1:29 am
                jennunicorn
                Participant

                  Totally understand, it's easy for our minds to go places it wouldn't have gone to so easily before.

                  • January 14, 2017 at 1:29 am
                  jennunicorn
                  Participant

                    Totally understand, it's easy for our minds to go places it wouldn't have gone to so easily before.

                    • January 14, 2017 at 12:29 am
                    Michelle820
                    Participant

                      Thanks for your insight! Trying not to google too much-that's what I was thinking…since it's on both thumbs. So hard not to overthink everything:/

                      • January 14, 2017 at 12:29 am
                      Michelle820
                      Participant

                        Thanks for your insight! Trying not to google too much-that's what I was thinking…since it's on both thumbs. So hard not to overthink everything:/

                      • January 14, 2017 at 12:00 am
                      jennunicorn
                      Participant

                        Damage to the matrix, the area at the bottom of the nail under the skin, can cause the nail to permanently have streaks, bumps, waves. If you've ever hurt your thumbs, doesn't always take much force, then that could be the cause. It would be unusual for mel to show up in both thumbs, would really only show up in one nail, so I wouldn't be as worried since it's in both thumbs. Bring it up to your derm on Tuesday, but wouldn't stress too much. Also, acral mel is not very common in light skinned folks, it's actually most common with dark skin and african americans… it's what Bob Marley had and passed away from. Another thing I like to remind myself as well is that if your first mel was cutaneous then if you were to have another one it would be the same type of mel and would appear similarly to your first one. 

                        • January 14, 2017 at 12:00 am
                        jennunicorn
                        Participant

                          Damage to the matrix, the area at the bottom of the nail under the skin, can cause the nail to permanently have streaks, bumps, waves. If you've ever hurt your thumbs, doesn't always take much force, then that could be the cause. It would be unusual for mel to show up in both thumbs, would really only show up in one nail, so I wouldn't be as worried since it's in both thumbs. Bring it up to your derm on Tuesday, but wouldn't stress too much. Also, acral mel is not very common in light skinned folks, it's actually most common with dark skin and african americans… it's what Bob Marley had and passed away from. Another thing I like to remind myself as well is that if your first mel was cutaneous then if you were to have another one it would be the same type of mel and would appear similarly to your first one. 

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