A TikTok video about nail health spurred an Ohio mother to discover she had an early stage of subungual melanoma.
At a Glance
- A viral TikTok video led Lauren Koltcz to seek medical advice for a brown line on her thumbnail.
- She initially assumed it was a vitamin deficiency or fungal infection.
- After a dermatologist’s video, she visited the Cleveland Clinic, which confirmed subungual melanoma.
- The cancer was caught at stage zero, avoiding chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Identification of Symptoms
Lauren Koltcz of Ohio noticed a brown line on her thumbnail, dismissing it as either a vitamin deficiency or a fungal infection. However, after medication for a fungal infection did not work, she stumbled upon a TikTok video featuring a dermatologist. The video prompted her to take the brown line seriously, urging viewers to seek professional advice for such nail changes.
Motivated by the information, she scheduled an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic to confirm the nature of her condition, where Dr. Alison Vidimos expressed concern over the pigmentation characteristics.
Timely Intervention
Upon examining Koltcz’s thumbnail, Dr. Vidimos arranged for a biopsy, conscious of the pigmentation’s traits, such as its depth and width.
“I was concerned because the pigmentation on her nail was very dark, there were different shades of brown, and the spot was wider than 3 millimeters.” – Cleveland Clinic doctor Allison Vidimos MD.
The biopsy results showed stage zero subungual melanoma, indicating that cancer had not spread beyond the top layer of skin. With a high survival rate when detected early, the situation was promptly managed through surgery, removing the cancerous tissue and leaving Koltcz cancer-free without further treatment requirements.
Role of Social Media
Platforms like TikTok clearly played a crucial role in sparking awareness and influencing Koltcz to act before the cancer progressed. The incident underscores the substantial impact digital platforms can have on public health awareness, particularly highlighting issues that might otherwise be neglected.
“I just couldn’t believe it. Everybody knows someone who’s had cancer, and now I was one of them.” – Lauren.
Today, Lauren advocates for greater engagement from medical professionals on social media to broaden awareness about diverse health concerns, especially less obvious ones like subungual melanoma. As a testament to the reach and effectiveness of social media, this story has spread widely and served as a reminder of the importance of promptly addressing bodily changes.
