This girl had to have her finger amputated after biting her nails a lot

Courtney Whithorn is a 20-year-old girl who has had to undergo drastic surgery due to a habit she simply couldn't control: nail biting.

It all started as a nervous response to bullying at school, and in 2014 Courtney started biting her nails frantically. Over time, she realized that the situation was complicated and that the thumb of her hand was increasingly hurt, and to avoid family clashes or even more bullying, she spent four years hiding her injured finger, using bandages and false nails. .

Unfortunately, Courtney had her case evolved into a rare cancer called acral melanoma, which was diagnosed in July this year. Since then, she has had four surgeries, and despite the medical team's attempts, the young woman's big toe had to be completely removed from her hand.

Sad news

In a statement published in Metro, she said she was shocked by the news, and only managed to show her finger to others this year, when she was already really hurt. She also said that when her nails grew back, it was like a piece of paper she ripped off without thinking twice.

Courtney initially sought medical help for aesthetic reasons, but her dermatologist thought there was something different with her finger and requested a biopsy, which accused the disease.

Amputation

“The plastic surgeon texted me that the protocol for this type of melanoma, being so rare, is amputation. I had a panic attack at work. I read the word 'amputation' and ran out. I could not breathe. My mother had to come to my work, ”she said.

Now, after the finger is removed, she will have to go through frequent exams for the next five years: "There is not enough research to know the survival rate or the likelihood of cancer coming back because we don't know much about it, " explained.

Courtney also said that she bit her nails all her life, but it was during her teens that the trend got out of hand as she suffered a lot of bullying at school and had strong bouts of anxiety. Nail biting was his defense mechanism.

Now, she hopes her story will help people become aware of both bullying and habits that become dangerous due to anxiety or other factors, and encourages people to better deal with their own problems.

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