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?
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.