Question: Nails and Chemo/Herceptin

Cal-Gal · 07-18-2009, 08:17 PM

Hello there Her2 sisters and brothers,

I finished 6 rounds of TAC chemo about 7 weeks ago--
I just finished my 6th Herceptin treatment yesterday.

After my first chemo two of my nails started to darken-and the rest went yellowish-

I had my second pedicure today since completing chemo--my first pedicure about a month ago my toe nails looked fine---

Now it looks like my 2 big toe nails are going to fall off--
Is this from the Herceptin or chemo????

On the info that I received from my Oncologist all three Taxotere-Adriamyacin-Cytoxan all can cause darkening of the nails--but there is no indication in my info of the possibility of losing nails?

Thanks so much

Ellie F · 07-19-2009, 02:50 AM

Hi
I am on taxotere and herceptin and am having bad nail problems also. My nail on one of my big toes has separated and looks like it will fall off. Mt onc puts the blame clearly at the door of taxotere.
Last year I had AC and whilst my nails got several reidges in them and became discoloured it was nothing like this time round.
Hope this helps
Ellie

GemmaG · 07-19-2009, 07:07 AM

Hi, It's from the chemo. My toenail darkened and eventually fell off but grew back. When I was just getting Herceptin alone I didn't have any nails problem. When something else added (Navalbine,Doxil, Ixempra, etc.) that's when my nails started to darkened specially with Doxil even my fingers!

Gemma

Whonoze · 07-19-2009, 08:34 AM

I have been only on Herceptin for some time now and continue to have nail problems all the time.

Lori R · 07-20-2009, 05:18 AM

I would place the blame on the taxotere, so hopefully you can count on a speedy recovery.

I was on taxotere and AFTER chemo was complete, I had an infection in my finger and had to have the nail removed. Emotionally the timing was a real blow...I was done with chemo...I was moving on...

A word of encouragement...the nails grew out and no longer lifted which was the root cause for the infection.

I've been on herceptin for 1 1/2 and have had no further nail issues.

harrie · 07-22-2009, 12:11 AM

Taxotere impacted my nails similar to how yours is. I thought at first i was getting some kind of nasty fungus in my nails and the my oncologist said it was NOT a fungus, but only side effects from the taxotere. Was rather gross. He suggest I put on tea tree oil on the nails, and I really think that helped. It eventually cleared up nicely. So don't worry, it's not permanant! They will be beautiful again. I think I was told not to paint them when they are like that. Plus if you do paint them, the tea trea oil won't be able to penetrate.

Cal-Gal · 07-24-2009, 06:56 PM

Thank you all for your support and answers!!!!!

Yikes Harrie, I had my toes polished!!!

harrie · 07-25-2009, 10:37 AM

CalGal: OH NO!!! POLISHED YOUR TOES!!!
(.....just kidding!!!.....)

Funny thing, only my fingernails were effected. My toenails were fine the whole time! I think it is fine you paint your toenails. Just periodically remove the polish to make sure they are still ok. (ooopss...just noticed your above post about your toenails...) maybe you better not use the polish....