Woman's Acrylic Nail ‘Leads' To Rare Skin Cancer Diagnosis: ‘I Noticed A Funny Line'
Lucy Thompson, a 35-year-old from Hull, East Yorkshire, has shared how a seemingly minor mark on her nail turned out to be a sign of a serious illness. In April 2023, after removing her acrylic nails, she noticed a thin black line on her left thumb. Assuming it was just a bruise from knocking her hand, she didn't think much of it. However, after a friend urged her to get it checked, her GP referred her to the hospital, where doctors suspected it could be linked to a rare form of skin cancer. While the first tests were inconclusive, a second biopsy revealed precancerous cells in her nail bed.
In a conversation with The Sun, Lucy said, 'I'd had my nails done and I ended up picking them off. I noticed a funny line on my nail and thought I'd damaged it by taking off my nails, or I might've banged it, or trapped it in a door. A straight, thin line just appeared, and I remember thinking 'that looks a bit odd'.' I'd had them on for about two weeks just to see friends. I was aware of it and thought 'I'll just keep an eye on it' but wasn't worried."
'I went to the doctors, and before she even sat down, she said that it could be cancer and 'we'll need to send it off.' I thought I was just going to get told it's nothing. I got referred to a specialist cancer hospital straight away, and they said they wanted to remove it as soon as possible. They took a biopsy, and I was constantly ringing up to get the results. I really was scared. I could see every day it was growing and growing. It was really tough. My first thought was, 'who's going to look after my kids like I can?'. That's what I was scared of. I didn't want to leave my kids," Lucy Thompson explained.
When the first round of tests didn't give clear results, the British woman had another biopsy on her nail. This time, doctors found pre-cancerous cells. They explained that if these cells were left untreated, they could have developed into a serious type of skin cancer called subungual melanoma. Lucy said many people mistakenly believe such marks are harmless and delay getting them checked, which can be dangerous. She feels fortunate that hers was caught early and has not returned. Now, she makes it a habit to check all her nails regularly and rarely gets acrylic nails.
Lucy Thompson was relieved after doctors announced that she does not require any more treatment. She now advises that if someone notices a mark, line or any difference in their nail, they should visit a doctor as soon as possible. While the issue might be harmless, getting it checked early can help prevent serious problems in the future. She also tells friends who regularly get their nails done to occasionally remove all polish or extensions so they can clearly see the nail bed and spot any hidden issues.
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