Mum’s finger amputated after nail streak reveals subungual melanoma

A woman in the UK has had her finger amputated after a “suspicious” mark under her nail led to a sinister diagnosis.

We use our hands all day, every day, meaning there are times we get little cuts and even bruises on them.

But when flute player Elizabeth Misselbrook noticed a funny streak on one of her fingernails, she knew something wasn’t right.

The 40-year-old had previously been scrolling through Facebook, The Sun reports, and had seen warnings that a mark like hers could be caused by skin cancer.

She immediately made an appointment and was shocked when, months later, she had to have her finger amputated in order to remove a rare form of cancer.

Elizabeth Misselbrook noticed a strange mark on her fingernail in September 2019. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

Doctors had to take a biopsy but when her nail grew back, the mark grew back even darker. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

The mum first noticed the streak in September 2019, prompting her GP to refer her to a dermatologist.

They initially said she shouldn’t be concerned, and that she should return in three months to have it checked.

But the line started to change and grow – forcing doctors to remove the nail and perform a biopsy.

“I was worried because I have a doctor friend and she put something on Facebook about a line on your nail being a sign of something,” Ms Misselbrook said.

“I wasn’t overly worried, but enough to make a GP appointment. I didn’t wait. It didn’t itch, it was just a faint, light-brown line.

“It takes time because it’s not a quick ‘whip that off and have a look’ and nails do get funny marks, but it was changing and I did have a feeling.”

In December 2020, the nail had grown back, but it still wasn’t right.

The flute player had to have her finger amputated to avoid the cancer spreading. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

Ms Misselbrook wants people to take notice of any strange marks on their skin and nails. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

“I noticed another line so I went back to the GP and kept an eye on it again. It was changing a lot,” Ms Misselbrook said.

“The dermatologist said it was suspicious and it’d need to be biopsied again. It was much wider and darker and I was getting worried.

“It had pigment that had gone onto the skin at the base of the nail so I was a lot more concerned because it had more sinister features.

“So, in May 2021 they said it’s melanoma, stage 1A, meaning it’s invasive but not hugely.”

Ms Misselbrook was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer known as acral lentiginous subungual melanoma.

She is now urging others to look out for the signs, as she awaits a prosthetic finger so she can play the flute again.

“Because I’d had two melanomas which had been fully removed, they wanted to make sure it didn’t reoccur so they amputated it before the first joint,” she said.

‘I was worried about long-term consequences like handwriting and playing the flute. I wanted to play the flute, but I wanted to live more.’ Picture: Kennedy News and Media

“I was upset when they said they had to amputate but I was really worried that I’d had two melanomas, so I kind of wanted them to make sure it didn’t come back.

“I was resigned to it. I hadn’t felt unwell at any point and I hadn’t had drug treatment so I felt grateful. I didn’t want to get ill.

“I was worried about the long-term consequences like handwriting and playing the flute. I wanted to play the flute, but I wanted to live more.”

Ms Misselbrook is now cancer free and said she has taken time to come to terms with her diagnosis.

“When they told me it was melanoma, I wasn’t surprised but it was a shock,” she said.

“It was on my left hand and I’m left-handed and play the flute.

“The whole way along I never felt I was going to die because the surgeon was very reassuring that it was cancer but it was very treatable, as it was diagnosed early.

“I was trying to stay calm and thinking, ‘It is what it is, I’ve got to deal with it and it’s not nice.’ A lot of people struggle a lot more than I have and they find it really hard.

“Check your nails for anything suspicious that doesn’t grow out; a bruise will grow out.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Mum’s finger amputated after nail streak reveals subungual melanoma