ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Woman discovers her 'ugly nails' were actually an early warning sign of cancer

'I had no idea.' - by Lucy Bode
  • 14 Aug 2018

We’re all pretty versed in weird bodily symptoms that warrant an immediate check-up - be it a sudden loss in appetite, changing mole or lump that pops up somewhere it shouldn’t. But while these might sound obvious, there are a bunch of signs of cancer that can fly under the radar, too – an unfortunate truth UK woman Jean Taylor learned firsthand.

Taking to Facebook, the 53-year-old asked for advice after noticing her fingernails had started to point downward. After several commenters suggested it could be linked to illness, she took a trip to the doctor to have it looked at more closely.

JeanJeannie Williams Taylor

“I was rushed for blood tests and a chest x-ray,” she explained in a recent post. “2 days later I got a phone call to go for a CT scan, 2 days later a PET scan and more blood tests.” Next up, she underwent a breathing test on her lungs, a scan on her heart, an MRI and a biopsy. And after a “gruelling” two weeks, she had a diagnosis: cancer in both of her lungs.

“When your nails curve its often linked to heart and lung disease and its official term is ‘clubbing.’ I had no idea,” she wrote.

According to the Mayo Clinic, nail clubbing occurs when the tips of the fingers or toes enlarge and cause the nail to bend around them as they grow. Experts can’t pinpoint exactly why this happens, but one theory is that certain chronic illnesses trigger a change in the curvature of the nail bed when the blood vessels dilate.

“Any good doctor who sees someone has clubbing will know that they may have some sort of lung disease, heart disease or gastrointestinal disease,” Dr Eric Presser, a thoracic surgeon told Health. In addition, it’s often an early-tip off for other conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis, mesothelioma, Crohn’s disease and colitis.

That said, most cases of clubbing are benign, so there’s no need to freak out right away. It’s simply a matter of being in tune with your body and speaking up if you spot anything unusual.

“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,” Dr Presser adds.

This article originally appeared on Women's Health.

  • Real Life
  • Health

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Dog the Bounty Hunter Beth Chapman battles throat cancer

Dog the Bounty Hunter Beth Chapman battles throat cancer

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Getting shot saved my life

Getting shot saved my life

{headline}

{headline}

Mums battling rare blood cancer together become best friends: 'I'm going to kick cancer's butt!'

Mums battling rare blood cancer together become best friends: 'I'm going to kick cancer's butt!'

Mum diagnosed with rare cancer in her foot after first baby saved by her HIGH HEELS

Mum diagnosed with rare cancer in her foot after first baby saved by her HIGH HEELS

The gameshow that gave us back our dad

The gameshow that gave us back our dad

{headline}

{headline}

Weight loss surgery cured my cancer

Weight loss surgery cured my cancer

I had a baby at 53, then hours later I felt a lump

I had a baby at 53, then hours later I felt a lump

Girl born with THOUSANDS of cysts on her face has revolutionary surgery

Girl born with THOUSANDS of cysts on her face has revolutionary surgery

She beat cancer TWICE then her ex did this

She beat cancer TWICE then her ex did this

How a freckle did THIS

How a freckle did THIS

This woman beat cancer - but Facebook BANNED photos of her mastectomy scars

This woman beat cancer - but Facebook BANNED photos of her mastectomy scars

Having a baby CURED this woman's brain tumours

Having a baby CURED this woman's brain tumours

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!