She just wanted to get her nails done. But instead, she would get the worst news of her life.
The nail technician quickly spotted the small black mark on her nail and expressed her concern. What had she done to deserve this?
Melissa Benson
Melissa Benson was having a terrible day at work. Things hadn't been great at home either. So, in an attempt to make herself feel a little bit better, she decided to visit the salon.
Little did she know what awaited her...
At The Salon
Melissa hoped to see Sergio, her regular nail technician. But unfortunately, he was sick that day.
So, Lisa Williams, another technician, offered to help her.
Strange Behavior
Melissa agreed, thinking she would get some well-needed pampering.
However, Lisa was making her feel very uncomfortable. She was behaving very strangely.
A Black Line
“I’d like a darker color than usual, please,” Melissa said. “I’ve got this black line from when I shut my finger in the door, and I’d like to cover it.”
“Right,” Lisa responded. She kept staring at her fingernail, and it was making Melissa feel uncomfortable. What was her problem?
Curious
“So you said it happened in an accident?” Lisa asked as she touched her nail. “Yes,” Melissa responded. She couldn't understand why the technician was so curious about the black line on her nail.
She had already told her what happened. “But it was a while ago now. Is it… something I should be worried about?”
Calcium Deficiency
“I’m sure it’s nothing. It could just be a calcium deficiency that’s hindering the nail’s recovery,” Lisa explained in an attempt to calm Melissa down.
“Impossible,” said Melissa. “My doctor told me I drink too much milk.”
Bad News
“In that case,” Lisa said. “I think there’s something you should hear.”
“I think you should get it checked out by a doctor,” she insisted. Melissa felt her heart pounding in her chest. Could she have cancer?
Passed Out
Before Lisa had the chance to say anything else, Melissa suddenly passed out right in front of her.
An ambulance was called, and Melissa was taken to the hospital.
On The Way To The Hospital
She could hear the paramedics reassuring her that everything would be alright, but she couldn't help but fear the worst.
Was the black mark on her nail a symptom of a terminal disease?
Panic Attack
Melissa woke up a few hours later in the hospital room. The doctors informed her that she had suffered a severe panic attack at the salon.
Then, the nurse informed her that she had a visitor. It was Lisa. "Not again..." Melissa thought to herself as she prepared to face her nail technician.
Cancer
While Melissa was still unconscious, Lisa informed the nurse about the black mark on her nail, and they had examined it.
It turns out that she had cancer. But the worst part was what caused it.
Subungual Melanoma
Melissa had subungual melanoma. This type of skin cancer isn't caused by the sun or other forms of cancer but by trauma or injury.
A nail cracking, black line, or bleeding can all be a sign of this rare type of skin cancer. But would Melissa be alright?
Lucky Woman
Fortunately, Melissa's cancer was in its early stages, and the doctors were able to stop it from spreading, all thanks to Lisa.
A few weeks later, Melissa was given the all-clear.
Warning
If you ever notice an anomaly on your body or dark nail, book an appointment with your doctor just in case.
It could be nothing, or it could be serious. Therefore, it's better to get yourself checked out as soon as possible.