Lose your big toe nail?

[Midwest Alice]

My left big toe nail feels strange and looks like it has moved away from the skin on one side. I remember a friend who had brain cncer said she lost both hers. Is it a side a of A/C? Anybody else lost theirs?

[Gerri]

Ah, chemo toes, as I like to call them....Not only did I lose most of my big toenails, but all or part of every single one. Not all at one time thankfully, but it went on for quite a while. To disguise this (for my own benefit), I would polish my nails and fill in the missing spots. Losing them didn't hurt, but unfortunately, it took a long time for them to finally grow back.

[karenann]

I've lost several toenails, too.

Karen

[vickie h]

Yes, some do lose those toenails (me, included). I lost most of my left big toenail...it took about 8 months to grow back out and like Gerri, I painted them to hide the separation from the skin. I was on Xeloda/Tykerb when that happened. Much love, Vickie

[MJo]

A/C and other chemo definitely effect the nails. Mine turned black. While I didn't lose a whole nail, they were brittle and constantly broke and peeled. This too shall pass.

[Believe51]

Ed has had problems with both big toes. I cannot remember what treatment he was specifically on, but they have been wanting to fall off for almost the length of his illness. We try to keep it clean as best as possible to prevent chance of infection.>>Believe51

[yankeebikachic]

I am losing 2 toenails as I type, on tykerb/xeloda.
I treated myself to some pink toenail polish to make it look a little nicer.

[Sheila]

Mine are turning black from Taxol...only the big toenails, and one more than the other.....hmmmmmmmmmmm

[PinkGirl]

Sheila,
That could be a piece of banana peel stuck on your toe
and it is turning black ... just a thought.

[Sheila]

PINKSTER
Just remember who has more spray cheese.....(by the way, i wonder what it would taste like on a banana???)

[Diana1993]

How timely this thread came up. I have lost a 'baby toe' nail and my both my big toenails are lifting. I've been on Xeloda for over a year now. Hubby and I are leaving for the sunny south, Florida and Texas on Saturday, so will go and get a pedicure to hide the mess. Have you noticed how the cuticles seem to grow thicker and difficult to keep back?
Pinkgirl, great to see you posting again. I missed your sense of humour.
Hugs,
Diana.

[WomanofSteel]

I have had ongoing toenail problems for years now. Between fungus, infections, ingrowns and lifting nails, I sometimes wish they would all fall off coz at least they would all look the same and be less painful.

[Gerri]

WomanofSteel,

Have you seen a podiatrist? Losing my nails didn't hurt, but when my two big toenails grew back they grew into my flesh on both sides. That hurt!!! Not an ingrown toenail (even though I had those too) but into the entire length of the sides. I finally couldn't take it anymore so I went to a podiatrist. He cut the nail out of both sides of the nail bed and then put some sort of medication to prevent the nail from growing back too close to the sides. He also cut back all my nails and filed them down - they were very thick. My nails have grown back very nicely and I haven't had a problem since.

[WomanofSteel]

Gerri, been there done that. When I started on the taxol all my nails started liftin including the big toes and they are starting to dig in again. I have been cutting them down and smoothing them myself, but if they get really bad again I will definitely go back and just have the whole big toenail removed. Just tired of dealing with the petty crap when there are so many important things to deal with ya know?

[schoolteacher]

My big toe nail on my left foot started hurting two weeks after I had my last chemo treatment, taxotere and carboplatin, in November. Two weeks ago my Austrialian Sheperd stepped on the toe nail. Yesterday, when I got up, my toenail was running infection. I have been boiling it with peroxide, and I let it soak in Epsom salts last night.

If anyone knows of something else I can do, I would grately appreciate the knowledge.

Amelia