The ‘diamond gap’ finger test that could be an early warning sign of lung cancer – The Sun

IT'S the second most common cancer in the UK – with 47,000 people diagnosed with the deadly condition each year.

But now a simple test may be able to show you if you have lung cancer.

Doctors are urging people to take the 'diamond gap' finger test, which involves putting your nails together to see if there's a diamond-shaped space between your cuticles.

If there isn't a space, this is a sign of finger clubbing  – which is a common symptom of lung cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK, finger clubbing happens in more than 35 per cent of people with lung cancer.

It tends to happen in stages with the base of the nail becoming soft and the skin next to the nail bed becoming shiny before the nails begin to curve more than normal.

The ends of the fingers may also get larger as a result of this too.

Finger clubbing

It’s thought to be caused by fluid collecting in the soft tissues at the ends of the fingers – but it’s not entirely clear why this happens.

It comes after a grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer after spotting she had clubbed nails.

Jean Taylor had brushed off her "ugly" nails as nothing more than an embarrassing trait before getting her devastating diagnosis.

She is now urging people to take the diamond gap finger test, also known as the Schamroth window test, so that people can catch lung cancer early.

How to take the Schamroth window test

Firstly, put your hands up in front of you and touch the tips of both your index fingers against each other.

Then, make your nails touch by bending the tops of your fingers against each other.

If you can see a small diamond space between them (Schamroth's window) then the nails are not clubbed and you do not need to worry.

It's worth noting that finger clubbing doesn't necessarily mean you definitely have lung cancer – and there are lots of reasons why your fingers may present this way.

Despite this, it is important to rule out cancer so make sure you see your GP as soon as possible to establish the cause.

Other signs of lung cancer

Not all people with lung cancer have finger clubbing as a symptom.

Other signs to look out for include:

• Having a cough most of the time
• A change in a cough you have had for a long time
• Being short of breath
• Coughing up phlegm which has signs of blood
• Aches or pains in the chest or shoulder
• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Weight loss

Unfortunately, lung cancer is often diagnosed late because it doesn't usually cause noticeable symptoms until it has spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body.

This means that for many people the cancer has already spread when they are diagnosed.

In general, about one in three people with the illness live for at least a year after they're diagnosed and about one in 20 people live for at least ten years.

However, it is worth noting that survival rates can vary widely, depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis –early diagnosis can make a big difference.

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