Didn't know where to post this, so if a mod wants to move it to appropriate place, I have no problem. Just wanted to give the gals a heads up on something that could REALLY make a differnce in someone's life.

A little background so you know that I am speaking from experience. Back in 2005, I went to my Dr. several times for pain in my neck and base of skull. He attributed it to a couple of old whiplashes I'd had and put me on muscle relaxers, pain meds., etc. Wasn't helping, so took an x-ray, said I had a "crushed" vertabra (sp) in my neck, so sent me to physical therapy. Went there a few times a week for several months. One time had a new gal. She was concerned about some lumps in my neck. So I went to primary care Dr. He said it wasn't a big deal, just some lymph glands, was common. Well, a few months later, those lumps started hurting and was still having excrutiating pain base of skull. So was sent to ENT. He had me go in for an MRI and CT-Scan the very next day. One day later, ENT guy calls back and says looks bad, he had me make an emergency appt. at OHSU (Oregon Health Science University). They did a biopsy on the neck lumps and determined it was lung cancer that had metastized(sp) to the lymph glands and cancer was eating away at my skull! One thing he DID point out to a student was the shape of my fingernails. They are "normal" to me. Aren't ugly, just different in the fact that my nails, from the nailbed, are curved instead of being flat. It's called clubbed fingers and is indicative to either heart or lung disease. Here is what clubbed fingers look like. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...size/18127.jpg
Wish I'd known there was a coorelation between my nails and my health. I went thru radiation for the cancer eating away at my skull and THINK they caught it before I lost TOO many brain cells. That was Feb. 2006. Was given 9 - 12 months with how advanced it all was. Well, I'm still kicking, tho still going thru chemo. I was recently thinking of having my first time ever manicure, but my blood counts were low last check up so wasn't a good idea. That is what reminded me about that first appt. when the "C" word was positive. I thought that others should know to watch their fingernails and those of their loved ones. If you notice someones nails are even just a bit curved from the nailbed, might be a good idea to have it checked. The sooner its caught, the better. Feel free to pass this info onto other boards you may belong to. The more who know something so simple to watch for, it may help out just one or two. That's my hope, anyway.