[vqtilley]

Here's one unusual experience: My nails on Herceptin/Arimidex had become very thin, flaky and ridiculously fragile, always splitting and shredding, with pale dry ridgy surfaces and in some spots actually separating between nail & nail bed. They often split painfully up into the quick and I couldn't use them for anything. One day the look suddenly reminded me of a tropical nail fungus I had ages ago. As an experiment I tried tea tree oil, which after 2 weeks did nothing, but then I tried an over-the counter nail fungus paint "Anti-Fungal Liquid/Undecylenic Acid" (Walgreens) and after 2 weeks they improved modestly but noticeably! I then asked my GP for Jublia (prescription anti-fungal) and after six weeks my nails have smoothed, strengthened, with color improved, holding their shape & not shredding at all! I do keep them very short and quickly smooth any rough edges but I can actually use them again for light things in the kitchen, etc. and they look and feel FAR better. I'm wondering if maybe our meds in some cases make us vulnerable to nail fungus? It's the kind of thing our med oncs wouldn't be thinking about or testing for, no? Anyway, the Undecylenic Acid isn't expensive and might be worth a shot. If you try it, I'd suggest using it every evening after you're in bed and have done your last stuff with water, and include toenails. Be patient, give it a couple of weeks and share results? Might be a fluke in my case, but would be great if we find wider benefits.