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It was detected on her big-toe appearing as a wide vertical black stripe. The black stripe first appeared as a thin black line but has now widened to about a quarter inch. It starts in the nailbed and reaches the tip of the nail. A dermatologist first believed it to be a bleed-out from a broken capillary or a fugus. Now, after visiting several different specialists, a biopsy needs to be done. This involves cutting through from the nailbed down to the first knuckle of the toe. Do I want her to be put through this?? NO and neither does she. What if it isn't melanoma? What if it is a result of something else ? Has anyone else ever experienced this before?

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I haven't had this experience, but i would find out what the treatment will be if it IS cancer. Would aunt be willing to do that treatment (surgery, chemo, radiation?). That's the real question?
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Thanks for your response Babalou. No, she would no way be able to withstand that sort of treatment. We are still investigating this with her doctor. Thanks again.
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Of course you wouldn't want to put her through massive doses of chem or radical amputations, but what if there were other options? Perhaps a short course of radiation? Amputation of just the toe? And if nothing is done and it is melanoma, how will the disease progress and how quickly?
Until you know for sure what treatments are available or are being considered you can't make a rational decision. I don't think the biopsy sounds out of line, it is relatively minor surgery. And you could ask about the possibility of a more minimally invasive way to get the sample.
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Thank you cwillie. Will keep you posted.
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