A simple test you can perform at home with your fingers could provide a sign of lung cancer. Almost 40,000 people a year are diagnosed with the condition, but many patients are unaware of some of the early signs, reports The Mirror.
Some of the common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing and a persistent cough with blood or phlegm. But there is also a sign that can appear in your fingernails.
If you can't see a diamond-shaped gap when you press two fingernails together, you could have finger clubbing, when the ends of your fingers swell up - and this could be a sign of lung cancer.
The condition happens in stages, starting at the base of the nail, which becomes soft. Then the skin next to the nail bed become shiny, after which the nails begin to curve more than normal when looked at from the side.
Finally, the fingers may get larger and swell due to fluid collecting in the soft tissues of the fingers.
While not having this diamond-shaped gap between fingernails doesn't automatically mean you have lung cancer, there is a possibility it's a symptom. So, the best course of action is to speak to your doctor if you spot it.
One lung cancer patient Brian Gemmell , whose only symptom of the disease was finger clubbing said: "Go and see your doctor If you’ve got anything that you’re concerned about – that’s what a GP is for. Go as soon as you can.’"
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Common lung cancer symptoms:
A persistent cough that lasts three weeks or more
Breathlessness
Wheezing
Frequent chest infections
A cough that changes or gets worse
Chest and/or shoulder pain
Coughing up blood or blood in your phlegm
Unexplained fatigue or lack of energy
Hoarseness
Swelling in the face or neck.
These signs don't always mean you have lung cancer, but it's best to consult your GP if you have any of the above concerns.
