Laura had acral lentiginous melanoma, a rare and dangerous form of skin cancer that appears under nails or on the soles and palms
Laura Jennings’ mysterious mark on her toenail was dismissed by the doctors as just an infection from bruising, but it turned out to be a deadly form of cancer. For the 40-year-old from Leeds, she first noticed a dark streak beneath her toenail three years ago.
“I'm fairly active and can be clumsy at times, so I figured I'd kick something,” she said. “It did not even look like anything I should be worried about, and it wasn't painful, so I kept it covered with nail varnish and carried on as normal,” Laura added.
However, when the nail began to crumble, Jennings went to the hospital, where the doctors initially diagnosed her with a fungal nail infection and prescribed an antifungal ointment. She was also told that it could take up to a year for a new nail to grow.
A year later, the mark only worsened, prompting Laura to see the doctor again and ask for a detailed investigation, which then revealed she had acral lentiginous melanoma—a rare and dangerous form of skin cancer that appears under nails or on the soles and palms. According to experts, it is often more advanced at diagnosis and tends to have a worse prognosis compared to other melanoma subtypes.
Later, Jennings had to get a part of her toe and a lymph node in her groin removed through surgery to stop the cancer from spreading. Even after that, she still faces regular scans before doctors can confirm she is in the clear.
What is acral lentiginous melanoma?
Acral lentiginous melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that forms on the palms, soles of feet, or under finger or toenails. Unlike cutaneous or melanoma, it is not believed to be caused by sun exposure and therefore occurs in areas not typically exposed to the sun.
Acral melanoma affects people of all races and ethnicities.
However, according to doctors, acral melanoma is a rare form of melanoma, accounting for only about 1-3 per cent of all cases diagnosed. About 2,000-3,000 cases of acral melanoma are diagnosed each year in the United States.
Signs and symptoms of acral melanoma
According to experts, the signs and symptoms of acral melanoma vary depending on the location and stage of the cancer. A few common ones you need to look out for are:
- A black, grey, tan, or brown spot, patch, or discolouration on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
- Any changes in spots that may be growing on the hands or feet
- A new or changing mole on the hands or feet: This may appear suddenly or gradually, and it may be larger than other moles on your skin.
- Darkened streaks or discolourations that run vertically across the bed of your toenails or fingernails, which can ultimately cause breaks and cracks in the nail. A spot or patch on the hands or feet that itches, bleeds, or is painful. These may be signs that the cancer is growing or spreading.
What causes acral melanoma?
Doctors say the potential causes of acral melanoma are not yet fully understood. However, acral melanoma is not believed to be associated with sun exposure. Studies to identify genetic and environmental risk factors contributing to acral melanoma are currently being performed.
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