Hello Trudi50, 

Welcome to our forum. I hope that you will hear from others who have had a biopsy for subungual melanoma before and that they will share their experience with you. It sounds like your surgeon has the expertise to determine when taking the nail off whether a biopsy is required so I think you can probably just trust his judgement and see what he says when you have your appointment next week. I am sure that if he deems it necessary when looking closely under your nail, he will take a biopsy and that he will only decide not to do so if he is absolutely sure this is not required. But if you are still worried about what the usual procedure is, perhaps you could try and talk to another specialist about it and get a second opinion? You can find out more about this here.

I hope everything goes well with your appointment! 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Trudi

I am not medically qualified. But if (surgeon best placed to answer this) subungual melanoma begins in the nail matrix then surgeon would only see once nail removed how things looked.

Surgeon will know more when nail off. If that's sufficient, well... for you to press and ask if concerned. 

Good luck.