Taxotere has done a number on my nails. The nails have become darkened, yellow, brittle and ridges have formed. Some nails appear to be lifting off their bed.I have three nails in total that are of concern to me. I'm afraid I'm going to catch an edge and ripe one of them off.
I'm also concerned about infection that may lead to lymphedema.
Does anyone know what is the proper care of chemo nails with long-term Taxotere treatment?
19 comments:
Do they offer you ice packs for your hands (and feet) while getting the chemo? I hear some places do, and it helps stop the circulation from getting there. Let us know what works for you (I start that one in 4 weeks).
Hi Daria - yup, the nails are so gross and they seem to last forever...who knew nails can grow so slowly? I avoided manicures and pedicures (infection risk) and jsut kept my nails as short and trimmed as possible. they DO grow back and mine are perfect now...
Wish I could help, but I can't! Do they hurt?
I had nasty nails with taxol and my nails have never really recovered...still brittle and easily broken. Still ridged too.
Best I can suggest is to keep the nails as short as possible, keep them clean (sterilize any nail tools you use) and use hand cream to keep them soft. If they are going to fall off they will but keeping them as short as possible will help.
As long as there are no cuts on the fingers themselves you should be fine with regard to infection.
Ooooh see what you mean Daria. I am not sure. My nails have become brittle, they are peeling and splitting and have strange colours in them. My friend is a nail beautitian, I will ask her if she has any ideas.....
Audrey,
Just one ... like a banged it somewhere.
Daria
I really appreciated your comment with regards to what works for you when you have side effects. I wonder if you could provide the name of the treatment you are presently taking, so that I can include that on my spreadsheet as well.
Thanks for checking into the site Daria and know that you are doing a wonderful job on your blog. Wow...you have soooo many followers - it's easy to see they appreciate everything you write.
Take care now,
Debbie
www.myhusbandskidneycancer.com
I know that there are vitamin/mineral supplements available specifically to support healthy nails - it may be worth checking those out. Not a quick fix, unfortunately.
Thinking of you x
My Taxol nails are finally growing out (last treatment 3-10)I lost 3 toenails but the fingernails stayed put even though they felt like they weren't quite attached to me. I had 4 white lines (Mees' lines)-one for each treatment. Keep them short so they won't snag on anything. If they do fall off and leave a bleeding area, keep spreading Neosporin over them to prevent infections.
Hang in there.
Beth,
I haven't seen ice packs but I'll ask about it.
My nails are bad because I've been on this chemo since August of 2008.
I really doubt yours will get this bad.
Daria
When I was on Taxol, per my oncologists orders, I soaked my nails in a bleach/water solution and a vinegar/water solution, twice a day to help with infection. I'm sorry about your nails, mine are just now really recovering after being off chemo for a year.
Hmmm a friend of mine suffered this too (With her toe nails as well) But the good news is that they grow back X:-)
My goodness that looks sore Daria. I found this info: http://www.cancerlynx.com/nails.html
Keep the fingernails in cold water during the chemo treatment.
http://cervicalcancer.about.com/od/treatment/a/nail_care.htm
~Renee
I am happily allergic to that chemo! I would say that when are body's are toxic , the poison leaves through out skin, hair & nails. Do you take fish oil piils? YOu need to balance something out in your body. Take a detox salt bath or massage healing clay into the nails. It can pull the impurities out and maybe help.
I'll look into more remedies that may help.
I finished chemo in December, and my toe nails are still just terrible! My fingernails have all grown out now, so that isn't a problem anymore. My fingernails were never really dark, just brittle. But my toenails are VERY dark, thick and raised. I can see the line about mid ways up. VERY slow in growing out. No sandels this summer!!!! I don't have any infections, but they are so hard to cut.
If you find any solutions, I'd like to know about it!
Seems like the hands and feet are attacked by all kinds of things during the cancer journey. My hands are a constant concern following my radiation seeding. I blogged about it and thought it might encourage you:
http://turquoisegates.blogspot.com/2009/04/growing-slowly-old.html
Daria, I checked your nail situation out with my friend and she said that once they are dead they are gone. Just make sure that you cover them up and they will grow back.
Soz, was hoping to have a miracle cure for you x
Hi Daria
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I did not have the nail problem during my first round of chemo in 2005 but then I was on a clinical trial of carbo/taxol/selenium. This time after my reaction to carbo I was on taxol only for 4 treatments. I think the neuropathy might be making the problem worse too.
Sorry we are both going through this but it is nice to know I am not the only one out there who has nail /toe nail problems.
Dee
Ovarian Cancer survivor
Women of Teal blog
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