Nail Clubbing and Lung Cancer Risks: What to Know

Some lung cancer patients experience what is known as “nail clubbing,” which is swelling of the fingertips and nail beds. While nail clubbing is tied to many issues related to the lungs and heart, it’s important to get checked for lung cancer if you develop it — especially if you were exposed to asbestos decades ago.

What Do Nails Look Like With Lung Cancer?

When clubbing of the nails occurs in lung cancer patients, the nails may appear to be bulging outward, becoming wider. They may also take on a reddish tint.

Between 5% and 15% of lung cancer patients develop clubbing of the nails, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The pointer finger and thumb are most commonly affected, but in some cases, all of the nails may be impacted, as noted by Cleveland Clinic.

Here’s what to know about nail clubbing and lung cancer:

• The most common cause of nail clubbing is lung cancer, per UF Health.
• Lung cancer is responsible for about 80% of nail clubbing cases.
• Many patients don’t realize that they have clubbing associated with lung cancer nails, according to BMJ Best Practice.
• Fingernail clubbing is seen in 35% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 4% of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

While nail clubbing typically isn’t painful, see a doctor if you develop it, as it could mean you have a serious health issue like lung cancer.

“I had no cough, I wasn’t coughing up blood, I wasn’t breathless. My one and only symptom was clubbing of the fingers, where all your fingers swell up and when you put your fingers together you can’t see a diamond. That was my only symptom.”
– Brian G., lung cancer survivor

Learn more about the finger nail changes in lung cancer and how to get help after a diagnosis with our Free Lung Cancer Guide.

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What Is the Fingernail Test for Lung Cancer?

The Schamroth window test is another name for the fingernail test that can reveal whether you may have clubbed nails associated with lung cancer.

Here’s how the Schamroth window test is performed:

1. Take your pointer fingers and point them directly at your chest.
2. Press the fingernails together so they’re gently touching each other.
3. From that position, look for a small diamond of light between your fingers. Hold them up close if necessary.

If you cannot see this gap between your depressed fingernails, it may be a sign of clubbed fingers and potentially lung cancer.

While you can perform this test at home with the help of online tutorials, it’s always best to see a doctor if you are concerned about finger clubbing.

Specialized doctors know how to accurately perform the Schamroth window test and can recommend other lung cancer screening and diagnostic options to help you.

How Is Lung Cancer Nail Clubbing Diagnosed?

Nail clubbing is just one potential lung cancer symptom, but it’s shared by other common illnesses that impact the heart and lungs, including infections of the lung, as noted by Cleveland Clinic.

Because of this, doctors need to use care when diagnosing the underlying cause of finger nail clubbing.

Steps to diagnose lung cancer nail clubbing include:

1. Medical history and physical exam: Doctors will note any potential risk factors for lung cancer, such as a history of smoking or exposure to asbestos, and look at changes in the nails and fingertips. The Schamroth sign is the hallmark test used at this stage.
2. Imaging tests: Doctors use X-rays, CT scans, and more to look inside the body for possible signs of heart- or lung-related issues. This may include tumors or other changes in the lungs.
3. Biopsy: If doctors believe you might have lung cancer, they will order a biopsy to take a sample of potentially cancerous tissue. From there, they will look at it under a microscope to see if lung cancer cells are present.

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer after having finger clubbing, your health care team can recommend different treatments to reverse the changes in your fingers and hopefully help you live longer.

Diagnosed with lung cancer? We can help you understand your treatments and explore financial options to cover costs. Call (877) 446-5767 now.

How Is Nail Clubbing for Lung Cancer Treated?

There isn’t a way to specifically treat nail clubbing. Rather, doctors must treat the underlying condition that is causing it.

When lung cancer is causing nail clubbing, doctors have several different treatments available for use in removing or shrinking tumors.

Common lung cancer treatment options include:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation
• Surgery to remove tumors

Doctors typically use multiple treatments as part of a larger plan to kill as much of the cancer as possible.

All of these treatments have been proven to help treat finger clubbing in lung cancer patients, as noted in the Open Journal of Clinical and Medical Case Reports. In fact, lung cancer finger clubbing could reverse in as little as 90 days following surgery.

The effectiveness of the treatments in reversing lung cancer nail clubbing is also well-established. For instance, a majority of patients’ fingers returned to normal after lung cancer surgery to remove malignant tumors, according to The Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology.

Finger Nails and Lung Cancer: Get Help Now

If you or someone you love is experiencing nail clubbing, it could potentially be a sign of lung cancer — particularly if there’s a history of smoking or asbestos exposure.

In these cases, it’s important to seek out help from a lung cancer specialist who can perform the Schamroth window test and take other steps to determine if you have cancer or not.

If you are indeed diagnosed with lung cancer, you can start on a treatment plan to not only reverse this symptom but also potentially live longer.

Lung Cancer Group is here to support patients and loved ones facing a lung cancer diagnosis. Call us now at (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn about treatments and explore your options.