Source
r/AskDocs•
wrong_assumption

Girlfriend has suspicious lesion under the nail, growing quickly

Physician Responded

Girlfriend, 38F, 130 lbs., Hispanic, has seen a suspicious spot under her toenail appear 20 days ago and is growing quickly. No other medical diagnoses. Today she was able to see a dermatologist in Mexico (she lives near the border), and the dermatologist said it could be a melanoma, but she needs a biopsy to be sure. She is scheduled for a biopsy in 10 days (!).

My question is, is 10 days reasonable to wait for a biopsy to be taken in such circumstances? She has medical insurance (BCBSTX PPO) in the US, but we don't know whether to wait or to look for a US alternative, or whether it would be quicker. Given that results from a biopsy take 1-2 weeks, is the long wait for a biopsy risking her life??

All local US dermatologist don't have appointments until February. Is there a way to be seen before it's too late? Should we go to an oncologist directly? We're a bit lost.

Picture of lesion 5 days ago, for reference: https://ibb.co/qWTj0Rr. The lesion has grown since.

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Posted Dec 10, 2023, 2:42 AM UTC

257
LibraryIsFunPhysician - Gastroenterology•

10 days is extremely quick

69
wrong_assumptionOPLayperson/not verified as healthcare professional.•

Thank you.

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Literally-A-NWSLayperson/not verified as healthcare professional•

NAD. Could even be a fungus! Look, I know how hard it is gonna be to wait the ten days, but worrying about it right now isn’t gonna help either of you. Hearing melanoma can be scary, so maybe just be there for her and try to distract her for the next 10 days.

8
FastPhoriaThis user has not yet been verified.•

NAD. You mentioned a greenish hue, could be a pseudomonas nail infection (Google image this phrase to get an idea of colour). I had one of these last year in my thumbnail, it grew really quickly.

https://preview.redd.it/r7osx6p05i5c1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d8cd51a2fdf2138cf4477cc9aa94e238b19674d

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DifferentDebt1436Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional•

First of all calm down! It could be bad but it could be as well nothing. I had a bruise in the exact same spot on my toe this summer because i was dancing in a pair of shoes that was hitting my nail right there. I had no pain at all and it looked very similar to yours. And as i can see from the photo it has a purple hue. You mentioned in the post that now it has a green hue which would correspond to the phases of hemoglobin degradation (aka bruise evulution). First it’s purple then green then yellowish etc. and it might appear like it’s growing but in reality it’s just the hemoglobin being resorbed. For me, the bruise didn’t heal fully until my nail grew and i cut it.

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