Small Change In Your Fingernails Could Be An Early Warning Sign Of Deadly Cancer Before Other Symptoms Appear

When most people think about cancer warning signs, fingernails are not usually the first thing that comes to mind.

That said, regularly checking your nails could reveal an important clue that something more serious may be happening inside your body.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States.

Lung cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, partly because early symptoms can be vague or mistaken for everyday issues like coughs or seasonal illnesses.

Most people are aware of common warning signs such as wheezing, a long-lasting cough, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood.

What many people do not realize is that a lesser-known sign can sometimes appear on your hands.

If you are looking at your fingernails right now, you might be wondering what exactly you should be checking for.

Many people only look for coughs and wheezing for lung cancer Getty Stock Image

The main thing to watch for is swelling at the fingertips along with noticeable changes in the shape of the nails.

This condition is known as finger clubbing, and it is usually a sign of another underlying issue rather than a condition on its own.

Experts believe this happens when lung tumors release certain chemicals or hormones that cause inflammation in the bones of the fingers.

One patient from the UK has shared that finger clubbing was the only sign of lung cancer he noticed before being diagnosed.

Brian Gemmell told The Mirror: "Go and see your doctor—that's what a GP is for."

"Go as soon as you can," he stressed, adding that he was “feeling healthy” when he received the unexpected diagnosis.

Brian also explained: "I wasn't coughing up blood, I wasn't breathless. My one and only symptom was clubbing of the fingers, where all your fingers swell up and when you put your fingers together you can't see a diamond."

Clubbing can alter the structure and appearance of your fingernails Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

"That was my only symptom. Straightaway, my GP had an idea of what it was. He sent me straight for a chest X-ray and referred me to a respiratory consultant."

The simple test Brian mentioned involves pressing two matching fingers together, nail to nail, and checking whether a small diamond-shaped gap appears between them.

If that small diamond shape is missing, it may be a sign of finger clubbing and worth getting checked.

A 2012 study by Dr. Malay Sarkar, a lung cancer specialist based in India, found that lung cancer is the leading cause of finger clubbing.

The study linked lung cancer to nearly 90 percent of finger clubbing cases, while nail clubbing itself appears in roughly five to 15 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer.

However, Cancer Research UK notes that finger clubbing does not automatically mean someone has lung cancer.

Dr. Helen Piercy also told the Mirror: "If you notice any signs or symptoms that concern you, see your GP."

"First phone for an appointment. You will be assessed. You will be invited in, if you need to be seen face-to-face. Don't be afraid. Pick up the phone."