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Old 09-08-2015, 12:51 PM   #1
Donna H
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Join Date: May 2014
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My nails are still a mess

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my nails back in shape? Chemo ended a year ago and Herceptin ended in May, yet my nails are still weak, thin, splitting. Thankfully the color is good. But I can break a nail folding laundry! Is the gel nail polish safe to use on chemo compromised nails? Regular manicures aren't cutting it. Nail strenghtening polish hasn't helped much either. I have been taking supplements for hair/nail growth for the past few months. Any suggestions are welcome.
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Old 09-08-2015, 03:58 PM   #2
KDR
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Location: New York, New York
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Re: My nails are still a mess

Nailtique. Found at CVS. $18 or so...
Best of luck, it works!
Karen
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World Trade Center Survivor (56th Floor/North Tower): 14 years and still just like yesterday.
Graves Disease, became Euthyroid via Radioactive Iodine, June 2001.
Thyroid Eye Disease. 2003. Decompression surgery in 2009; eyelid lowering surgery in 2010.
Diagnosed: June 2010, liver mets. ER-/PR+10%; HER2+++.
July 2010: Begin Taxol/Herceptin. Eliminate sugar from diet. No surgery or radiation.
January 2011: NED
April 2011: Progression in liver only. Other previous affected areas eradicated. Stop Taxol/Herceptin after 32 infusions.
May 2011: Brain MRI: clear.
May 2011: Begin Tykerb daily, Xeloda twice per day for one week on, one week off, and Herceptin.
November 2011: Progression in liver. All other tumors remain eradicated.
December 2011: BEGIN TRIAL #09-093 Taxol, MCC-DM1 (T-DM1), Perjeta.
Trial requires scans every six weeks, bloodwork and infusions weekly.
Brain MRI: clear.
January 2012: NED. Liver mets, good riddance!
March 2012: NED. Developed SMA (rare blood clot) in intestinal artery and loss of sight in right eye due to optical nerve neuropathy. Resolved when Taxol removed this month.
Continue Protocol of T-DM1 weekly and Perjeta every 3 weeks.
May 2012: NED.
June 2012: Brain MRI: clear.
June-December 2012: NED.
December 2012: TRIAL CONCLUDED; ENTER TRIAL EXTENSION #09-037. CT, Brain MRI, bone scan: clear. NED.
January-March 2013: NED.
June 2013: Brain MRI: clear. CEA upticking; CT shows new met on liver.
July 3, 2013: DISASTER STRIKES during liver ablation: sloppy surgeon cuts intercostal artery and I bleed out, lose 3.5 liters of blood, have major hemothorax, and collapsed lung requiring emergency resuscitative thoracotomy, lung surgery, rib rearrangement and cutting deep connective tissue, transfusion. Ablation incomplete. This life-saving procedure would end up causing me unforgiving pain with every movement I make, permanently, otherwise known as forever.
July 26, 2013: Try Navelbine/Herceptin. Body too weak after surgery and transfusion. Fever. CEA: Normal.
August 16, 2016: second dose Navelbine/Herceptin; CEA: Normal. Will skip doses. Watching and waiting.
September 2013: NED, Herceptin only. CEA: Normal. Started Arimidex.
October-November 2013: NED. Herceptin and Arimidex. CEA, CA125, 15-3: Normal.
December 2013: Something brewing. PET lights up on little spot on liver; CEA upward trend, just outside normal. PET and triphasic liver scan confirm Little Met. Restart Perjeta with Herceptin, stay on Arimidex. Genomic sequencing completed for future treatments, if necessary.
January 2014: Ablate Little Met on the 6th. Happy New Year.
March 2014: Brain MRI: clear. PET/CT reveal liver mets return; new lung mets. This is not funny.
March 2014: BEGIN TRIAL #10-005 A(11)-Temsirolimus plus Neratinib.
April 2014: Genomic testing indicated they could work, they did not. Very strange drug combo for me, felt weird.
April 2014: Started Navelbine and Herceptin. Needed something tried and true, but had significant progression.
June 2014: Doxil and Herceptin.
July 2014: Progression. Got nothing out of it. Brain: NED.
July 2014: Add integrative medical hematologist-oncologist to my team. Begin supplements. These are tumor-busting, immune system boosters. Add glutathione, lysine and taurine IV infusions every three weeks.
July 2014: Begin Gemzar, Herceptin & Perjeta. Happy.
August 2014: ECHO perfect.
January 2015: Begin weekly Vitamin D Analog infusions. 25 mcg. via port.
February 2015: CT: stable.
April 2015: Gem working, but not 100%. Looking into immunotherapy. Finally, treatments for the 21st century!
April 2015: Penn Medicine. Dendritic cell immunotherapy.
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Old 09-09-2015, 04:20 PM   #3
caya
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Re: My nails are still a mess

I've always had terrible nails, and chemo/Herceptin did not help at all. I have been doing the shellac manicures now and they are a godsend. Last a good 10 days - 2 weeks with no chipping.

Also always wear rubber gloves when washing dishes. All that hot water on your hands/nails weakens the nails too.

all the best
caya
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ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08

Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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Old 09-09-2015, 05:32 PM   #4
Donna H
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Re: My nails are still a mess

Hi Caya
How long have you been doing the shellac manicures? I was worried that would hurt my nails - not that I can imagine they could be any worse! I have to try something - I am in sales and it is hard to hide my hands! I have been using NailEnvy strengthener but it isn't helping much - it used to be great. Thanks-
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Old 09-09-2015, 07:14 PM   #5
caya
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Re: My nails are still a mess

Hi Donna,

I have been doing the Shellac manicures for about 3-4 years. For me, they have strengthened my nails. I know for some people it is not good for their nails, but for me, it has helped. They are hard, grown quickly (since I've been off Herceptin) and are great. Some people alternate between Shellac and regular manicures ( 3 or 4 Shellac, 1 regular) if they feel their nails need a break.

Good luck!

all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08

Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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Old 09-10-2015, 09:18 AM   #6
SpitFire
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Smile Re: My nails are still a mess

Donna - First, make sure you are eating enough calories from all the macros. All the vitamins in the world are not going to make a difference unless you are getting enough calories.

The Beauty Brains are science based. Maybe they have some good tips.

http://thebeautybrains.com/2014/04/i...ow-episode-28/
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8/2013 Diagnosed ER/PR Neg, Her2 Pos
FISH 6.86, Grade 2 (3,2,1), 10-15% Proliferation Rate 4.4cm
9/2013 Port Placement, Sentinal Node Biopsy 1/2 Nodes Positive having no extracapsular extension present
Stage IIb
9/2013 TCH
10/2013 TCHP
1/2014 End chemo!
2/2014 Lumpectomy Complete Response
2/2014 - 4/2014 Radiation
9/2014 Last Herceptin
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Old 09-12-2015, 07:21 AM   #7
sarah
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Re: My nails are still a mess

Evonail is made especially for people doing chemo. Expensive but it works well.
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