A TikTok video significantly influenced a mother’s cancer diagnosis, as it encouraged her to consult a doctor regarding unusual markings on her nails.
Lauren Colts, a 45-year-old from North Royalton, Ohio, noticed a brown line on her left thumbnail but initially attributed it to a vitamin deficiency.
“I had this nagging feeling, and it was more than just a vitamin deficiency,” she shared.
As the mark on her nail thickened, she and a friend sought advice from a nurse practitioner.
“I tried using some fungal medication on my thumb, but it didn’t help,” she remarked.
By February 2025, Colts observed the line spreading across her nails.
“I started searching online and stumbled upon some TikTok videos from my dermatologist,” she recalled.
In one video, a dermatologist urged viewers with similar symptoms to seek medical attention.
Following this, Colts arranged an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic, where the doctor performed a biopsy on the affected area.
The following day, Dr. Alison Vidimos, a physician at the Clinic, called to discuss the need for a biopsy.
“I was anxious. The pigmentation in her nail was quite dark, wider than 3 mm, and had an unusual brown hue,” Dr. Vidimos explained.
After four days, the biopsy results came back.
“I couldn’t believe it. You hear about people having cancer, but now I found myself in that situation,” Colts said.
The findings revealed that Colts had subungual melanoma, a rare skin cancer that develops under the nails, but fortunately, it was caught at stage 0, meaning it was confined to the upper layer of the skin.
The Cleveland Clinic notes that this type of melanoma constitutes about 0.7% to 3.5% of all melanoma cases worldwide.
It can affect any nail, and discoloration may not always be visible, highlighting the importance of vigilance regarding nail changes.
“When caught early, this cancer has a survival rate exceeding 95%,” Dr. Vidimos stated. “However, if overlooked, it can spread to the lymph nodes, complicating treatment.”
Many times, nail melanoma is detected late since people often neglect to check their nails.
A prompt surgical intervention removed a portion of the cancerous tissue, ensuring there were no remaining cancer cells.
“I kept thinking about how fortunate I was to have such an attentive doctor who caught it in time,” she expressed.
Currently, Colts shows no signs of cancer, but she plans to have regular follow-ups with her dermatologist.
