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One of the non-specific signs of lung cancer is clubbing, which results in an increase in the volume of the nails. A simple auscultation of the nails could inform you and invite you to consult.
Lung cancer, difficult to detect, could well leave a clue on our fingertips. According to the UK site DailyMirror, it is indeed our nails that are to be observed. By sticking our two thumbs back to back, nail against nail (like when you want to make a heart with your hands), a mini diamond of light should appear at the base of the two nails. If not, it may be called clubbing, swelling of the fingertips, which is one of the non-specific signs of lung cancer.
An observable sign in one in three lung cancers
According to the website My Cancer Network, finger clubbing thus occurs in 35% of lung cancer cases. This is a specific swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid:
“The phenomenon occurs in stages, starting with the base of the nail, which becomes soft. Then the skin next to the nail bed becomes shiny, after which the nails begin to curve more than normal when viewed from the side“, details the Mirror.
Of course, this is only a possible sign, not a confirmation, which only a professional can pose. But spotting digital clubbing can be one of those symptoms that raise questions and should prompt you to make an appointment with your doctor.
One symptom among others to be aware of
Rarely detected early, lung cancer is precisely difficult to detect because the accompanying symptoms are not specific to this disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, common signs include
- The appearance of a cough;
- Blood-tinged sputum;
- A new or worsening difficulty in breathing;
- A recurrent lung infection;
- Significant acute or chronic pain;
- Unusual and persistent fatigue;
- Loss of appetite and weight…
But other less common symptoms can also occur:
- A change in voice or loss of voice;
- wheezing;
- Difficulty swallowing related to compression of the esophagus (dysphagia);
- Chest pain;
- Sagging or weakness of the eyelid in one eye;
- Edema (swelling) of the face and neck, headaches…
Be that as it may, the appearance of a persistent symptom, even the slightest, should lead you to consult a doctor who will be able to perform certain examinations.
In France, more than 46,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in 2018.