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Simple 'finger Test' At Home Can Detect Early Signs Of Lung Cancer

Updated 12:36 19 May 2024 GMT+1Published 12:33 19 May 2024 GMT+1

Early intervention is essential for lung cancer

Lung cancer is something that sadly affects thousands of Brits each year, but there's one test you can do at home which allows you to potentially catch the signs early.

According to Cancer Research UK, between 2016 and 2018, there were 48,549 new cases of lung cancer in the UK population.

As a serious condition which can spread rapidly, catching lung cancer early is essential.

This simple test is something you can do on-the-go or at home - you can even do it right now and it takes seconds!

The finger test can help you spot early signs of lung cancer. (Getty Stock Image)

As a potential life-saver, why risk leaving it until your symptoms are staring you in the face?

Here's how you can do it:

Put your fingernails together as if you're making a heart using both hands.

Start with your index fingers and slowly take turns with your other fingers until you finish with your pinkies.

Now, do you see a little diamond-shape space in the middle of your two fingernails when they meet?

That's exactly what you want to see!

If you don't, you may need to take a closer look at your nails as 'clubbing' could be a sign of early-stage lung cancer.

What is clubbing?

Clubbing can take years to develop and is usually a sign of an issue with the heart or lungs.

Cancer Research UK determines it as: "Certain changes in the shape of your fingers and fingernails. It is also called digital clubbing or Hippocratic fingers.

"People with conditions such as heart or lung problems sometimes have these changes."

The charity describes it as unfolding in stages and that it begins as 'softening of the base of the nail (nail bed) and redness (erythema) of the skin around the nail' as well as the skin below the cuticle becoming curvier, the skin around the nails becoming shiny before the ends of the fingers growing larger and looking 'clubbed'- as though they are bulbous.

Brian Gemmell, a lung cancer patient, told The Sun about the importance of early intervention: "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."

Dr Helen Piercy, a GP from West Lancashire also advised that any symptom needs to be checked out.

She said: "If you notice any signs or symptoms that concern you, see your GP. First phone for an appointment. You will be assessed. You will be invited in, if you need to be seen face-to-face. Don't be afraid. Pick up the phone."

Whilst finger changes could be a sign, there are more common lung cancer symptoms to be aware of.

Catching lung cancer early is vital in increasing the chances of survival. (Getty Stock Image) The NHS details these symptoms as:

· A cough that doesn't go away after 2 or 3 weeks

· A long-standing cough that gets worse

· Persistent chest infections

· 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

If you show signs of any of the above symptoms, make sure to see your GP to rule out underlying issues.

If you've been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan's Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image

Topics: NHS, Health, Cancer

Strategies To Optimize Lung Cancer Outcomes

Sponsored Content by AstraZenecaMay 31 2024Reviewed by Emily Magee

Since the 1950s, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. In the 1980s, this expanded to women, including a growing incidence in those who had never smoked.1 

Lung cancer is estimated to be the leading cause of cancer deaths, resulting in more than 4,900 estimated deaths every day around the world – more than colorectum and liver cancers combined, which are the second and third leading causes of cancer-related deaths.2 Accelerating earlier diagnoses is one of the most crucial elements in improving outcomes and saving more lives.

Image Credit: Sebastian Kaulitzki/Shutterstock.Com

Key challenges in lung cancer

We are at a critical moment in the need to address low survivorship in lung cancer, and there are several reasons for this. Amongst patients, there is a lack of symptom awareness as well as strong feelings of stigma and guilt, i.E., that the cancer is their fault.3 This can cause delays in presentation to the doctor and, therefore, a delay in diagnosis. Diagnoses also vary widely by country: whilst Japan leads the way in early detection with 50 % of patients diagnosed with stages I-II, in India, less than 7 % are diagnosed in the early stages.4,5

Screening and early diagnosis are key drivers of improved survival outcomes. However, screening accessibility and the path to diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be complex. There can also be challenges in terms of communication between primary and secondary healthcare practitioners (HCPs) and this, coupled with inadequate resources, negatively impact the patient's experience.

In addition to late diagnosis, there are also variations in the time between diagnosis and treatment, which adversely affects survival outcomes. Clear disparities exist around the world when it comes to patient pathways. For example:

A US study found that the average time from lung cancer patients' first recorded symptoms/signs to their formal diagnosis was 570 days.6

In India, a study found that the referral to a specialist center took 50 days, with an additional 23 days for a lung cancer diagnosis and another 24 days to start treatment.7

In Europe, a study found that 42 % of lung cancer patients wait more than two months from their first medical consultation (specialist or primary care) to receiving their diagnosis.8

There are further barriers when looking at treatment pathways. Although biomarker testing has revolutionized the way cancer treatments are being developed, disparity exists around the world in access to high-quality biomarker tests. Sometimes, the low awareness of available diagnostic tests among HCPs has led to relatively few tests being ordered.9

Supporting HCPs working in lung health and lung cancer 

There is a clear need for further education, support and changes across the lung cancer care continuum in order to accelerate advances in diagnosis, access and treatment in lung cancer survival. 

Early lung cancer does not always present with signs or symptoms, which adds to delays in diagnosis.10 Furthermore, early symptoms such as a persistent cough11 could be mistaken for other conditions by both patients and HCPs, particularly in those who have never smoked, causing further delays in opportunities to test and diagnose. Primary care HCPs may benefit from heightened awareness and understanding of this deadly condition. 

More education is also needed around testing for specific biomarkers given that mutations in particular genes are the most common oncogenic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which accounts for 80-85 % of all lung cancer cases.12,13 Regional and in-country health ecosystem findings also need to be reflected in decisions made about the inclusion of biomarker testing following a lung cancer diagnosis to ensure that individual country incidence, diagnosis, and testing are reflected.

The Lung Ambition Alliance's vision and goals 

Formed of three partners – AstraZeneca, Global Lung Cancer Coalition, and Guardant Health – the Lung Ambition Alliance (LAA) was set up to advance lung cancer survival and improve patient outcomes and has an ambitious vision: to one day eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death. Since its establishment in 2019, the LAA has worked tirelessly on this goal, focusing on the three following priorities:

Increase screening and early diagnosis

Deliver innovative medicine

Improve the quality of care 

The LAA Ambition, Improvement, Measurement (AIM) reports published in 2022 and 2023 were developed to provide details of the barriers currently preventing screening, diagnosis, and treatment for lung cancer and strategies for tackling these barriers.

Resources for HCPs: the AIM reports 

Two of the AIM reports Optimising Access to Care Through Timely Referral Pathways and Improving Coordination of Lung Cancer Care and Patient Support, demonstrate the opportunities that can be taken to improve the speed of diagnosis and access to treatment for lung cancer. There is a responsibility on all groups within the lung cancer care space across the globe to work together to make changes. 

Better educational resources for both patients and HCPs, prioritizing early diagnosis by increasing resources, adaptive diagnostic pathways to cater to different points of entry, and collaborative working practices can all help increase access to the most effective treatments. When it comes to lung cancer care and patient support, clear communication with patients must be established to alleviate the psychological burden for patients, and centers of care should establish consistent, holistic communication strategies across the care continuum. 

The LAA's two additional AIM reports, Establishing a Pathway to Biomarker Testing and Optimising Multi-Disciplinary / Tumour Board Care, go deeper into which areas need to be addressed to ensure a successful level of care, including the accessibility of effective, innovative treatments. 

Topics covered include the need to establish well-defined pathways for biomarker testing, the set-up of essential data collection, and the impact of testing on patient outcomes. Additionally, the reports explore how cost analyses can demonstrate the value of biomarkers for early-stage, advanced, or recurrent NSCLC, which in turn can lead to better outcomes. 

Regarding Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs), there must be a review of treatment options and decisions for each and every patient; expertise represented within MDTs should include those working in lung cancer specialties and targets for increasing reviews of new patients seen by MDTs.

Whilst the main responsibility for the improvements listed above falls to leading professional societies who should develop recommended global guidelines for biomarker testing infrastructure and national implementation of MDTs, these practices can be integrated within today's lung cancer clinics (depending on available resources). Clear benchmarks and KPIs would allow teams to measure the effectiveness of their MDTs, e.G., assessing the time taken from diagnosis to treatment and access to biomarker testing. 

Working together to make changes 

Fundamental changes need to be made in terms of symptom recognition, early screening, and ensuring access to effective, innovative treatments. Only then can tangible improvements be made and more patient lives saved. Working together, we can successfully address current challenges and work towards a global shift in improving outcomes in lung cancer care. 

At the LAA, we have made it our mission to accelerate advances, decrease lung cancer mortality and improve patient outcomes. Our AIM reports provide resources for HCPs to build a deeper understanding of lung cancer symptoms, screening and diagnosis, ensuring accessible screening and timely referrals as well as changes needed to allow biomarker testing and innovative treatments for all those affected. Our goal to decrease lung cancer mortality and eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death is ambitious, but with our resources we can share knowledge and support learnings so that outcomes can be improved, and more lives saved.

Caius Kim, Global Director, Lung Ambition Alliance, AstraZeneca

References

Epidemiology of Lung Cancer. (n.D.). PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709917/ Accessed May 2024.

Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024; 74(3): 229-263. Doi:10.3322/caac.21834

Dirkse, D., Lamont, L., Li, Y., Simonič, A., Bebb, G., & Giese-Davis, J. (2014). Shame, guilt, and communication in lung cancer patients and their partners. Current Oncology, 21(5), 718. https://doi.Org/10.3747/co.21.2034

OncoDaily. (2024). Lung Cancer Screening in Japan. Https://oncodaily.Com/insight/62469.Html. Accessed May 2024

Biswas, B., Talwar, D., Meshram, Priti., Julka, Pramod., Mehta, A., Somashekhar, SP., Chilukuri, S., Bansal, A. (2023) Navigating patient journey in early diagnosis of lung cancer in India. Lung India 40(1): 48-58. DOI: 10.4103/lungindia.Lungindia_144_22

Zigman Suchsland, M., Kowalski, L., Burkhardt, H. A., Prado, M. G., Kessler, L. G., Yetisgen, M., Au, M. A., Stephens, K. A., Farjah, F., Schleyer, A. M., Walter, F. M., Neal, R. D., Lybarger, K., Thompson, C. A., Achkar, M. A., Sarma, E. A., Turner, G., & Thompson, M. (2022). How Timely Is Diagnosis of Lung Cancer? Cohort Study of Individuals with Lung Cancer Presenting in Ambulatory Care in the United States. Cancers, 14(23), 5756. Https://doi.Org/10.3390/cancers14235756

Garg, A., Iyer, H., Jindal, V., Vashistha, V., Chawla, G., Tiwari, P., Mittal, S., Madan, K., Hadda, V., Guleria, R., Sati, H. C., & Mohan, A. (2022). Evaluation of delays during diagnosis and management of lung cancer in India: A prospective observational study. European Journal of Cancer Care. Https://doi.Org/10.1111/ecc.13621

Lung Cancer Europe. Disparities and challenges in access to lung cancer diagnostics and treatment across Europe. 2020. Available from: https://www.Lungcancereurope.Eu/2021/12/16/disparities-and-challenges-in-access-to-lung-cancer-diagnostics-and-treatment-across-europe/ Accessed May 2024.

EFPIA. Unlocking the potential of precision medicine in Europe: Improving cancer care through broader access to quality biomarker testing Policy recommendations. 2021. Available at: https://www.Efpia.Eu/media/589727/unlocking-the-potential-of-precision-medicine-in-europe.Pdf Accessed May 2024.

Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers. (2024, April 18). Yale Medicine. https://www.Yalemedicine.Org/conditions/lung-cancer-in-nonsmokers

Lung Cancer Cough: What to Know. (n.D.). WebMD. https://www.Webmd.Com/lung-cancer/lung-cancer-cough

LUNGevity Foundation. Types of Lung Cancer. Available at: https://lungevity.Org/for-patients-caregivers/lung-cancer-101/types-of-lung-cancer. Accessed May 2024. 

American Cancer Society. What Is Lung Cancer? Available at: https://www.Cancer.Org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/what-is.Html. Accessed May 2024. 

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People Encouraged To Try Simple 'finger Test' At Home For Early Signs Of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a significant health issue, with rapid spread. And early detection is crucial. A simple at-home test using just your fingers might offer an early indication, potentially saving lives

Lung cancer affects thousands of people each year (

Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Lung cancer is a serious health concern, affecting thousands of people each year.

Unlike some other types of cancer, it can spread rapidly, making early detection crucial. But there may be a way to catch it before it spreads. There is a simple test you can do at home that might give you an early indication of lung cancer. It involves just your fingers, and it could potentially save your life. It's important to know that lung cancer symptoms often don't appear until the disease has progressed.

That's why catching it early is so vital. While symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, and a persistent cough with blood or phlegm are common indicators, there's one lesser-known sign that appears right at your fingertips. By examining your nails and the skin around them, you might notice subtle changes that could signal something's not right. This simple finger test could tip you off to seek further medical advice.

A simple finger test could tip you off to seek further medical advice (

Image:

Getty Images) What is the early sign of lung cancer on fingertips?

Take a moment to press your fingernails together. Do you notice a tiny diamond-shaped window of light? If not, you might want to pay closer attention. This absence of a gap, known as finger clubbing, could be an early indicator of lung cancer. But what exactly is finger clubbing? It's when the ends of your fingers swell up, signalling potential trouble.

This condition unfolds in stages, starting at the base of the nail, which may feel unusually soft. Then, the skin adjacent to the nail bed takes on a shiny appearance. Next, the nails begin to curve more dramatically than usual when viewed from the side. Eventually, the fingers may enlarge and swell due to fluid accumulation in the soft tissues. While the lack of that diamond-shaped gap doesn't automatically mean lung cancer, it could be a warning sign. The best next move would be to consult your doctor if you notice it.

Brian Gemmell, a lung cancer patient, stresses the importance of prompt action: "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." Early detection is key and by catching it early, treatment options expand.

Early detection is key for lung cancer (

Image:

Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Dr Helen Piercy, a GP from West Lancashire, advises: "If you notice any signs or symptoms that concern you, see your GP. First phone for an appointment. You will be assessed. You will be invited in, if you need to be seen face-to-face. Don't be afraid. Pick up the phone."

Remember, lung cancer symptoms can vary widely. Some experience multiple symptoms, while others may not notice any. Stay vigilant and proactive about your health. Your fingertips might just hold the key to catching a silent threat before it progresses.

Common lung cancer symptoms to be aware include:

A cough that sticks around for three weeks or longer.

Feeling short of breath.

Hearing wheezing sounds when you breathe.

Getting chest infections often.

Noticing changes in your cough or it's getting worse.

Feeling pain in your chest or shoulder.

Seeing blood when you cough or in your phlegm.

Feeling unusually tired or low on energy.

Having a hoarse voice.

Noticing swelling in your face or neck.

Remember, having these symptoms doesn't always mean you have lung cancer, but it's important to chat with your doctor if any of these worries you.

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