How long can you live with subungual melanoma?
The survival rates can get lower depending on how advanced the condition is when diagnosed and treated. If subungual melanoma is diagnosed at its final stage, or Stage IV, the survival rate is 15% to 20% at five years and 10% to 15% at 10 years.
Can you survive subungual melanoma?
Subungual melanoma has been associated with a poor prognosis, with a 10–30% 5-year survival, usually attributed to the delay in diagnosis (8–11). Early dermoscopic examination and biopsy of suspicious lesions, followed by amputation of the digit in those proving positive is the treatment of choice (8).
How does subungual melanoma start?
Subungual melanoma often starts as a pigmented band visible the length of the nail plate (melanonychia). Over weeks to months, the pigment band: Becomes wider, especially at its proximal end (cuticle) Becomes more irregular in pigmentation including light brown, dark brown.
Can subungual melanoma be benign?
While some patients will present with obvious signs of advanced subungual melanoma and require immediate referral, the majority will have benign or indeterminate pathology on initial assessment.
How long does it take for melanoma to spread?
Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as six weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun.
Can you have melanoma for years and not know?
How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.
What color is Subungual melanoma?
Subungual melanoma presents as brown-black discolorations of the nail bed. It can present as either a streak of pigment or irregular pigmentation.
What does melanoma look like on your toe?
Aside from looking like a changing mole, a melanoma on the foot can appear as a: Brown or black vertical line under a toenail. Pinkish-red spot or growth. New spot or growth where you injured your foot.
Does Subungual melanoma grow?
Mistaken for a bruise
However, unlike a bruise, the streaks from subungual melanoma do not heal or grow out with the nail over time.