Lump on my big toe ---scared to death

tessu

I'm still in the middle of treatment --- last chemo 29.12.15, second Herceptin-only injection last Thursday; started anastrazole a month ago. Chemo hit me hard both physically and emotionally, but I had finally begun to recover from all that h*ll and start to feel positive again. Heck my hair even started to grow

Now I'm scared to death. For about a month my left big toe nail stopped growing and the end part of the toe has been a little sore. I read that nails can fall of after chemo, thought it was that, and asked the chemo nurse when I got the Herceptin last week. She and a young on-call doc took a quick look; I got a prescription for antibiotic ointment, although it doesn't look infected to me (had a side-of-nail infection once before, this is very different). I only really carefully examined my toe last night. At the tip and extending under the nail is a hard lump that has stretched the skin and made it shiny. Definitely not an abscess. Called today hoping to be seen, but was told my (not very sympathetic) oncologist will phone tomorrow.

Yes I am in treatment for huge anxiety problems, and am grateful for the past couple weeks that I started to relax and feel almost happy again. And yes I KNOW it's pointless to worry about what-ifs, unless and until there is proof of a real problem. But I can't help it. I'm scared to death this is a met; angry that all the h*ll of chemo may have been for nothing; angry at myself for not being able to just let this go, wait and see what onc says. And of course managing only three hours of sleep last night isn't helping.

I'm just so very very scared

Rant over; sorry; thanks for listening

YATCOMW

Tessu.....

Based on the location it is unlikely mets.....Mets are usually not below the knee.....or at the least very, very rare.

Jacqueline

jenjenl

the probability is low that its mets. I've never heard of it on the toes.

Beatmon

My oncologist told me the same thing when both my thumbs showed up on bone scan...

Have you had a pedicure lately that could be causing the problem

ChiSandy

Sounds like either a fungal infection, or callus formation or scarring from an ingrown toenail. You should call a podiatrist first, not your onc.

tessu

Thank you for reassuring comments. Imaging yesterday showed no clear tumor, even though it looks like one (to both me and the radiologist). Just fluid behind the nail. Since my oncologist actually laughed at me when she phoned late Tuesday, saying she doesn't do diagnostics, bother her only once I have pathology results that show definite cancer, I'm just going to follow this. So tired of seeking help and getting blown off.

Cjs47

Tessu I'm so sorry your onc is treating you badly. Mine is constantly dismissing me too and even gets nasty with me. I'm looking for new onc. We have enough to deal with and should not have to be made to feel bad when we want answers for things that are bothering us!! Good luck🤗 Know that you are not alone!!