Cancer sucks, and all of us know at least one person who’s suffered or lost their battle from some form of it. Even the healthiest people can get a bad diagnosis. That’s one of the reasons why it’s always important to check up on your health and be aware of certain signs. For one woman, she actually learned that she had lung cancer based on the shape of her nail.
Lung cancer is often linked to smoking, secondhand smoke, or genetics. According to MedicineNet, it’s the most popular form of deadly cancer for men and women. What’s even worse is that symptoms often pop up when it’s too far along to properly treat. And that’s why little clues like nail shape are even more important.
The woman, who lives in the United Kingdom, posted a photo of her clubbed nail on social media. At the time, it was likely due to the funny way it looked. Health reports that she asked her friends online if they “had seen nails like this.” One of her friends urged her to get it looked at by a medical professional. Thankfully, she did.
Two weeks later, she posted a surprising update. She went to the doctor, who diagnosed her with lung cancer.
[image_with_caption text=”JeanJeannie Williams Taylor/Facebook” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/nail.jpg”]
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“Yesterday I got my results,” read the account, under the name of JeanJeannie Williams Taylor. “Cancer in both my lungs !!!! When your nails curve its often linked to heart and lung disease and its official term is ‘clubbing’ i had no idea.”
Clubbing is surprisingly a pretty big giveaway for a slew of different serious conditions, from pulmonary fibrosis to Crohn’s Disease. It’s something that should never be taken lightly.
However, it’s not always bad news. Dr. Eric Presser spoke to Health about how some of these cases are benign. “If you do notice this change, make sure you talk to your doctor about some of the potential possibilities that you want to rule out,” he noted.
All in all, the most important thing you can do is keep track of your body. If something seems off, don’t be afraid to go to a doctor and let them know. Early detection can save your life.