by Iuliia Bondar about Getty Images
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in Great Britain – around 49,000 people are diagnosed every year.
While many of us know that the symptoms of the disease can contain a cough that does not disappear and inexplicable weight loss, there is also a less obvious sign that could appear on their hands that could characterize the underlying disease.
Changes in the appearance of their fingers, in which they are bent or their ends are greater – a phenomenon that is known as finger clubbing – could mark lung cancer according to NHS.
Signs of finger clubbing
It is worth noting that if you experience finger clubbing, you do not mean that you have lung cancer. It can run in families and some people with thyroid problems, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease can experience it.
However, Mount Sinai Health Care suggests that lung cancer is the most common cause of this physical change.
“Clubbing often occurs in cardiac and lung diseases that reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood,” said the website.
According to Cancer Research UK, the change in phases seems to be done and it may take years for the development of years to take – although in some cases it can be faster.
First of all, there is usually a “softening” of the nail bed and the redness of the skin around the nail. Then the angle increases between the nail bed and the nail fold and causes the nail to “bend more than usual”.
The Cancer Accountability Organization said that the nail and the skin around him will “look glossy” and the nail develops burrs along the length. And then the ends of the fingers grow up and give the characteristic “club bed” spon.
How to discover finger clubbing
There is a simple test that people can carry out at home to assess whether they are affected by finger clubbing – it is referred to as the Schamroth window test.
According to the BMJ-Best Practice: “When two opposing fingers are held back against each other, a diamond-shaped space between the nail beds and the nails of the two fingers should usually appear.
“This room (or a window) is missing in clubbing.”
Other symptoms of lung cancer
The NHS lists the following signs that could also display lung cancer:
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A cough that does not disappear after 3 weeks
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A long -standing cough that gets worse
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Breast infections that come back again and again
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A pain or pain when breathing or coughing
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persistent shortness of breath
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persistent fatigue or energy deficiency
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Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
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Difficulty or pain when swallowing
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Swelling of your face or neck
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persistent breast or shoulder pain.
If you have one of the above symptoms, book an appointment to see your family doctor.
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