qikshot
New User
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:59 am Post subject: Strange spot on big toe |
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Eh oh all!
Apologies for the forum diagnosis - but im currently in rural australia for 2 weeks so away from anyone with expertise and need to discuss this...
About a week ago, a small (less than 5mm), perfectly oval dark red spot appeared on my big toe. It has all the appearances of a blood blister - however, it is completely painless. It has now begun to turn black..
Does this sound like something to worry about? I am booked in to see a doctor, but that is at least 8 days away and i dont know whether i should exercise greater urgency with an inspection...
Any advice would be most comforting!
QS |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5617
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Strange spot on big toe |
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Hi qikshot, I am sorry for your health concerns. I cautiously say that it could be a skin cancer. But just as cautiously I can say that it might not be skin cancer. There is obviously no way for anyone to diagnose you.
With a little more confidence I can say that even if it is a cancer, 8 days will not make much of difference. The good thing is the you have taken the very important step of making a doctor's appointment.
_________________
Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 3: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Twitter: @JimHawkins54 |
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HaoleBoy
Senior User
Joined: 19 Aug 2008
Posts: 108
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Strange spot on big toe |
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QS, my melanoma was on the bottom of my left foot's 2nd toe which was subsequently amputated.... so I know a little about this ....
First, congrats for being so observant on what is going on with your toes and feet....
2nd, you are absolutely doing the right thing in getting this checked out... If you have an appointment in 8 days, that should be sufficient -- as long as it doesn't further slip, I wouldn't worry about +/- 3 to 5 days either way...
A word of caution is in order in regard to lesion signs... In the US, all the primary care physicians preach the ABCDs as criteria for when to see a derm (assymetry in shape, irregular borders, color, diameter of 6mm or greater, etc)... I suspect they use these in Australia as well and I realize that Australia has a very very good public information/education campaign against melanoma....
THAT SAID, my melanoma did not fit any of the classic ABCDs -- though early on it did have some very faint tan color in it, but no more than what I've had in other well worn callouses on my feet...So the most important criteria in a lesion is the one we hardly ever hear about in the US which is "change" ... Regardless of whether or not the diameter is only 5mm (and NOTE that the diameter of my superficial spreading melanoma was only 3mm), your lesion is changing which is SUFFICIENT cause for triggering a visit to a dermatologist....
Also, pls note that the only definitive way to confirm or deny a lesion as melanoma is to conduct a punch or excisional biopsy of it and to determine its status pathologically.... I saw a podiatrist 3 + months before my diagnosis who dismissed my lesion as a pyogenic granuloma. A derm I saw 8 months + before my diagnosis for an annual full body skin check neglected to inspect my feet (and I was too dumb THEN to insist on it -- after all, no one gets mel on the bottom of their feet and toes right ?)
Not to scare you, but my lesion was oval shaped as well -- like a mini-football shape (American football, not soccer)... But on the plus side, melanoma is still a rare disease in the broader scheme of things and rare diseases happen rarely... This is most probably NOT melanoma, just a blood blister from friction drying up and turning colors, but YOU ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT TO BET YOUR LIFE ON IT... so I applaud your common sense and diligence -- most American men would blow this off and ignore it to their peril (but if their car was in the shop for repairs, they would be all over every detail)....
Best of luck and Aloha from Hawaii,
Haole Boy
Stage IIA |
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