Many were saddened to learn that Debbie Nelson, mother of rap icon Eminem, passed away at the age of 69 this week, following a struggle with advanced lung cancer.
Debbie’s passing occurred in St. Joseph, Missouri, US, on December 2, subsequent to her advanced lung cancer diagnosis which was confirmed to the public in September.
Following this news, many will no doubt be seeking information regarding lung cancer symptoms, and NHS GP Dr Nighat Arif has answered the call for more knowledge through her TikTok page.
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Dr Arif, who is known to offer health advice to her substantial TikTok following under the username @drnighatarif, is also recognised for her medical insights on ITV‘s This Morning programme.
In a video posted on the social platform featuring her appearance on the show, the doctor discussed what she calls ‘less common’ symptoms of lung cancer to Rochelle Humes and Phillip Schofield, who were hosting the show at the time. She explained: “They [the symptoms] can overlap really, it’s mostly the fatigue, this unintentional weight loss, you can also sometimes get coughing up blood.”
Moreover, she broached upon how some symptoms such as a persistent cough can lead to misdiagnosis, as repeated chest infections are typically treated with antibiotics when a thorough examination such as a chest X-ray might be necessary. Dr Arif stressed: “So sometimes, we can miss it by saying, ‘Oh it’s pneumonia or a chest infection’ and get repeated antibiotics from the doctor, when actually underlying it, we should be sending you for a chest X-ray to have a look if there are lumps.”
The doctor emphasised the importance of awareness around persistent chest infections, stressing: “So if you have a repeated chest infection that’s not getting better, always have that flagged up in your mind and say to the doctor, or the doctor should flag that up and say, ‘Well maybe we should getting a chest X-ray and getting this checked out, or a CT scan.”
Phillip sought clarification on urgency, asking: “What sort of time-scale are we looking at… if you have one of those symptoms. How quickly will you be treated?” To which Dr Arif responded by advising prompt action including a covid test, followed by contacting a doctor, “particularly if it’s a cough for three weeks, unintentional weight loss, shortness of breath, reassuring chest infections and you also get aches and pains or shoulder tip pain.”
Additionally, Dr Arif warned: “We need to re-double are efforts to pick up lung cancers early, because unfortunately we are picking them up late.”
The NHS confirms Dr Arif’s insights on its website and further adds a variety of lesser-known indicators of lung cancer. These include alterations in finger appearance, turning more curved or their ends enlarging, eating-related complications like difficulty swallowing or experiencing pain while doing so, wheezing, a raspy voice, and swelling of the face or neck.
Although he financially supported his mother, rapper Eminem – whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers– has reportedly been estranged from her and other family members in Missouri for several years, with their strained relationship often reflected in his lyrics.