This disease is particularly insidious as it often doesn’t present with symptoms in the early stages.
Experts have warned that an unusual sign in the fingertips could be a symptom of one of the UK’s most common cancers. This subtle indicator could point to lung cancer, recognised as the leading cause of cancer death in the nation.
According to statistics from Cancer Research UK, the disease is responsible for approximately 34,800 deaths every year. This equates to 21 per cent of all cancer deaths.
Part of what makes lung cancer so deadly is the fact it doesn’t typically display symptoms in the early stages. This means it might not be diagnosed until the disease is quite advanced.
The NHS explains: “Lung cancer does not usually cause noticeable symptoms until it’s spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body. This means the outlook for the condition is not as good as many other types of cancer.”
Therefore, catching any potential signs of the disease as soon as possible is vital. One such sign could manifest at the end of the fingers.
Cancer Research UK warns that finger clubbing is a symptom of lung cancer. This usually affects the fingertips on both hands, developing over time.
It will cause the nail bed to soften and the skin around the nail to become red. The angle between the nail bed and the nail fold will increase, which causes the nail to curve more than usual.
Cancer Research UK continues: “The nail and the skin around the nail look shiny, and the nail has ridges along the length of it. The ends of the fingers look larger, giving the ‘clubbed’ appearance.”
Finger clubbing generally takes “years to develop”, the charity says, although it can occur more quickly in certain circumstances like a lung abscess. One way to test for finger clubbing is to press together a fingernail from each hand.
If there’s a diamond-shaped space, fingers are likely healthy; an absence of such a gap could indicate clubbing. The NHS lists finger clubbing as a “less common” sign of the disease.
But it states that some of the common signs include:
- A cough that does not go away after three weeks
- A long-standing cough that gets worse
- Chest infections that keep coming back
- Coughing up blood
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Persistent breathlessness
- Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
Other, less common, signs include:
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or pain when swallowing
- Wheezing
- A hoarse voice
- Swelling of your face or neck
- Persistent chest or shoulder pain.
If you notice any signs of lung cancer, it’s important to consult your GP. The primary cause of lung cancer is smoking cigarettes, accounting for over 70 per cent of cases.