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Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world and one of the worst prognoses. Worse, the disease does not have the usual symptoms. So it is even more important to watch your fingers and nails. Their appearance can alert you to a developing disease. We are talking about stick fingers, also known as Hippocratic fingers or drummer fingers. What do they look like and why can they appear with lung cancer?
- The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and chest pain, but the disease can also have other, less obvious symptoms
- One of them are the so-called stick-shaped sticks
- We explain what it is and what other diseases this symptom can also be present
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Symptoms of lung cancer – club fingers are an unusual symptom
According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths, in both men and women. It is estimated that this disease kills approximately 2 million people each year. Moreover, there are no typical symptoms of lung cancer, so early diagnosis is very difficult. This is also the reason why it is one of the worst-prognostic cancers.
Considering the above, the awareness of all possible signs of a developing disease is enormous.
The most common symptoms of lung cancer are: cough that develops or does not go away after treatment for a respiratory infection, chest pain, coughing up bloody sputum / blood, wheezing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, swelling of the face or neck, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, apathy.
- To learn more about the symptoms of lung cancer, see Lung cancer – what symptoms should concern us?
During the course of the disease, one or more of these symptoms may appear simultaneously (during the development of lung cancer, the number of symptoms increases).
The shape of our fingers and nails may also indicate a developing neoplasm. This symptom is quite unusual. However, as Cancer Research UK (the British charity that supports cancer research) points out, it occurs in at least three in 10 people (35%) with non-small cell lung cancer and in four out of 100 patients (4%) with small cell lung cancer. . Changes in the appearance of fingers and nails can also occur in mesothelioma. What do you need to pay attention to?
Further part under the video.
What do stick fingers look like?
We are talking about stick fingers, also known as Hippocrates fingers or drummer’s sticks – a rare deformity that sometimes occurs with lung diseases. What do such fingers look like?
The tips are thicker than the rest of the fingers, and the nail plate, adjusting to their shape, begins to resemble a watch glass. So the nails are not only enlarged, but also clearly rounded.
As Cancer Research UK points out, the changes come in stages. First, the nail base (bearing) softens and the skin becomes shiny next to it. The nails start to curve excessively, which is clearly visible when viewed from the side. Finally, the tips of the fingers may enlarge, their shape will resemble a club – hence their English name “clubbing” (from club).
Band fingers as a symptom of lung cancer
Scientists believe that the cyst is the result of a build-up of fluid in the soft tissue at the fingertips. The mechanisms behind this are not well understood. This is presumed to be due to the large amount of blood flowing into the area. Another possible cause of changes in the appearance of the fingers is that the tumor is producing certain chemicals or hormones.
However, let us emphasize at this point that the appearance of the fingers of Hippocrates does not predict lung cancer. This symptom also accompanies other lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung abscess, pleural empyema, and bronchiectasis.
Rod-shaped fingers may also accompany cardiovascular diseases such as: congenital heart defects (eg Fallot’s syndrome), infective endocarditis; diseases of the digestive system, which include: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, hepatitis and cirrhosis, cancers of the digestive tract. This symptom may occur with hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly. Sometimes the stick fingers are also ascribed to genetic factors.
If you experience this syndrome, be sure to see a doctor in order to determine the cause and implement treatment.
Buy a kit of diagnostic tests:
- oncology package for women
- oncology package for men
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