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weezie1053 · 07-20-2007, 09:38 PM

Katsc49,

I too had lovely black and reddish colored nails. My gal pals called me "Gothic Barbie." You need to notify your Oncologist of the first sign of infection. I started to notice brown crust behind the nail on my right hand, and I tried to clean it out with a manicure stick. I then smelt the infection. I have a sister who is a nurse, and she insisted I call my Oncologist, and it was a Saturday. They sent me to the local ER where I live in Podunk, VA and the onc on call even told me what antibiotic the local ER should prescribe. (I wish I could remember it.) The one finger had to be drained. I lost half of that nail. The next day, my other nails started to worsen, and my sister nagged me until I got in the car and drove to my Onc 2 hours away. If your finger tips hurt or you see anything oozing, call your Onc. You need to be on antibiotics. Also, my nails later lifted a little and turned white, but I was able to hide them under beige nail polish. I did, however, loose two toenails. All is coming back since I am off the chemo.

Good luck,

Louise (aka Gothic Barbie)

07-20-2007, 09:38 PM	#8
weezie1053 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bedford, Virginia Posts: 134	Katsc49, I too had lovely black and reddish colored nails. My gal pals called me "Gothic Barbie." You need to notify your Oncologist of the first sign of infection. I started to notice brown crust behind the nail on my right hand, and I tried to clean it out with a manicure stick. I then smelt the infection. I have a sister who is a nurse, and she insisted I call my Oncologist, and it was a Saturday. They sent me to the local ER where I live in Podunk, VA and the onc on call even told me what antibiotic the local ER should prescribe. (I wish I could remember it.) The one finger had to be drained. I lost half of that nail. The next day, my other nails started to worsen, and my sister nagged me until I got in the car and drove to my Onc 2 hours away. If your finger tips hurt or you see anything oozing, call your Onc. You need to be on antibiotics. Also, my nails later lifted a little and turned white, but I was able to hide them under beige nail polish. I did, however, loose two toenails. All is coming back since I am off the chemo. Good luck, Louise (aka Gothic Barbie) __________________ Diagnosis 06/06 - Stage II-A BC; BC was 2.5 cm, grade 2; ER/PR negative & HER-2/neu positive; Mastectomy w/ reconstruction (implant) in 09/06;lymph nodes - negative; AC/Cytoxin combo - 4 treatments (dose dense); Taxol/Herceptin combo- 12 weekly treatments; Completed chemo - 2/07; completed restruction 02/07; reduction of left breast. BRCA 1 and 2 negative - 6/15/07;DX high risk for distant recurrence MRI, 08/02/07 - NED 1 year Anniversary - 09/07; completed Herceptin 11/07. Mammo 02/14/08 - NED; MRI - 08/2008 - NED 2 year Anniversary - 09/08 Mammo 02/09 - NED; MRI - 08/09 - NED 3rd year Anniversary - 09/09 5th Annivery - 09/2011 - NED