Gran’s shock as ‘ugly’ nails turn out to be ‘life-saving’ warning sign of lung cancer
Jean Taylor thought her clubbed nails were just a family trait - as her mum had them too
TO Jean Taylor, her "ugly" nails were nothing more than an embarrassing family trait.
The 53-year-old has what's known as clubbed nails, where they curve more and appear swollen.
Her mum had them too, so Jean didn't think too much of it.
But she was horrified when her own daughter, Stephanie, begged her to see her GP to get them checked.
The gran-of-three was diagnosed with lung cancer, less than a month after a series of painful tests.
Now, Jean credits her nails with saving her life.
"These nails are my life savers, I'm not cutting them off," she said.
Having worked at a factory for years, Jean had been forced to keep her nails short.
But after getting a new office job six weeks ago, she decided to let them grow.
"I've always had weak nails and I've never got them to this length because they were never strong enough," she said.
Having let them grow out, Jean's daughter Stephanie told her mum they were "ugly".
Looking for answers, the 31-year-old Googled her mum's strange shaped nails, and realised she had "clubbed nails" - a rare sign of heart and lung diseases.
Stephanie pleaded with her mum to see a doctor, and as a result Jean's cancer was picked up in the earliest stages - meaning she has a 70 per cent chance of surviving five years or more.
CLUBBED NAILS...A RARE SIGN OF DEADLY DISEASE
FINGER clubbing is when the ends of the fingers become larger and/or the nail becomes more curved.
Changes in finger appearance, including finger clubbing, is a rare symptom of lung cancer.
Common symptoms of lung cancer include:
- a cough that doesn’t go away after two or three weeks
- a long-standing cough that gets worse
- chest infections
- coughing up blood
- persistent breathlessness or tiredness
- loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss'
- an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
Less common symptoms include:
- finger clubbing
- high temperature
- difficulty swallowing
- wheezing
- a hoarse voice
- swelling of face or neck
- a persistent chest or shoulder pain
Now, Jean's online post raising awareness of her "ugly nails" and the link with cancer has been shared more than 85,000 times.
Jean added that despite her mum losing half her lung to the same disease, she never suspected her clubbed nails were a symptom of lung cancer.
"I didn't want to go to the doctor over a curved nail, but I did it to put my daughter's mind at rest," Jean said.
"She's the Google queen, and when you Google it the first thing that comes up in big bold letters is 'cancer'.
"I felt ridiculous going to the doctor over a curved nail.
"I just thought I was wasting their time. I never in a million years thought it would be this. Never."
Jean saw her doctor on July 10, and was shocked when he asked her to go for blood tests and a chest X-ray the very same day.
I felt ridiculous going to the doctor over a curved nail. I never in a million years thought it would be this. Never
Jean Taylor
In just three weeks, she had a CT scan, PET scan and MRI as well as breathing tests, a heart scan and lung biopsy.
On August 6, doctors confirmed Jean's worst fears, it was lung cancer.
"I have to say waiting for my lung biopsy was the worst four days of my entire life," Jean said.
"I've never faced fear in my life.
"I've faced every other emotion and dealt with it. But fear was something new to me, and I didn't know what to do."
READ MORE The 8 'red flag' signs of lung cancer you should NEVER ignore...all you need to know
Jean's doctor told her she has tumours in both lungs, the size of golf balls.
She will now undergo surgery to remove the tumour in her left lung, before a potential second op or radiotherapy to remove the one in her right lung.
"I've been dealt a curve ball, it's a very unfair curve ball but somebody has to go through it.
"My daughter is my best friend, she's my absolute rock.
"The biggest thing that hurts me is knowing it's hurting my two kids."
After discovering she had lung cancer, Jean painted her nails gold to celebrate the part they played in "saving her life".
MORE ON LUNG CANCER
She said: "If I have to put silver bells and fireworks on the end of them to raise awareness, I will."
The call centre worker said she believes all nail technicians should be trained to spot for clubbed nails - and warn their clients of the dangers.
"They should know about it, because if people are wearing acrylic nails the only time they are going to have their nails seen, is by a nail technician," Jean said.
"It could definitely save their (customers') lives."
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