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carlatte7 09-06-2012 02:34 PM

Loose fingernails...
 
Hi, all. I have a ? I finished my 4 TCH on july 2, herceptin every 3 weeks still. No neuropathy, etc, while on TCH. Yesterday i noticed the nail on my little finger looked "cloudy" at the tip, and when i looked closer, it is peeling away from the nailbed from the tip down. Today its loosened about halfway to the cuticle. Just a bit ago, i noticed the other little finger is looking the same. Its not painful, but, well, YUCK! Does this sound like the normal fingernail issue from Taxotere? Is there anythingto do about it? I see my onco on monday, just started rads yesterday. Thanks!

karen z 09-06-2012 09:00 PM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
I had major nail problems while on Taxol. Clouding, some turned black, some fell off, some .........I will just use the word yuk.

I do not think there is anything to do but wait. All of my fingernails turned black and they (eventually) were fine. Toenails came back as well although the nails on my large toes came in thicker than they were, which is not the greatest. And a couple of other toenails just didn't come in as great as before but are basically o.k. Time will take care of these things typically. Just remember that.

carlatte7 09-07-2012 05:39 AM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
Thanks...i was looking for it earlier- not 2 months after last chemo. I would have thought they would start loosening from the cuticle end. I am going to haiti in 2 months & can't stand te thought of wearing nitrile gloves for 10 days!! This too shall pass :)

Lori R 09-07-2012 06:15 AM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
I too battled the lifting nails and have some very real world advice to pass along.

The first time on taxotere no neuropathy but my finger started to tingle. I mentioned it to my onc who kind of ignored it. I did end up with an infection on one nail that antibiotics quickly took care of. So...just be aware and don't let your onc ignore it for too long.

Now...let's just see if I can really gross everyone out. On my recent round of abraxane my finger nails lifted (again) and they began to ooze. I was very fearful they would get infected. They actually smelled and everytime I put my hand to my face, I was reminded that all was not right. TEA TREE OIL. absolutely worked. I dropped some of this minty extract under my nails and the oozing stopped. The smell went away. My nails still looked funky but at least I didn't have to worry about them smelling.

Good luck....it will pass.

carlatte7 09-07-2012 05:50 PM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
I boughttea tree oil to try to prevent burns from rads...no oozingyet from loose nails but i've got it lose in case! Thanks!

Andrea Barnett Budin 09-08-2012 12:54 PM

Loose fingernails...
 
Yes, Carla is not unusual I found out. My finger nails all turned black. And lifted from the nail bed. Angled. Then -- oozy crusty stuff appeared in between the nail and bed. I went to an excellent dermatologist who assured me that there was no infection.

So I polished my nails red and didn't wear rings, trying to cover up the nasty sight. I felt like I looked like I was rotting. But I wasn't! I put a smile on face, lipstick on my lips, blush on my cheeks and some earrings peeking out from my wig. I did my best. Sure, you will too! It's what we have to do.

I wanted to appear as normal as possible. As good as one could expect under the circumstances. Clutching a tissue 24/7 cause the tears just kept pouring from my eyes. (Refresh + individual eye drops -- every single hour -- finally helped, I learned -- from the 5th ophthamologist I went to...)

My finger tips did kind of sting prior to and during this episode. They felt tender. Sore. (I did 8 mnths of Taxotere, every 3 wks back in the day. That's a whole lot of Taxotere.)

The new regimen sounds keen to me. No walk in the park I know. Stay strong!

I tried Tea Tree Oil once for something. I recall the odor made me throw the bottle away. How do you spell PEE-U...???

carlatte7 09-08-2012 05:41 PM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
8 months...you are my hero! I was not sorry they cancelled mylasttwo, just hoping it doesn't come back to bite me. All over that one single node... I blamedthe weepy eyes And runny nose (continually!) on vit H. My darling daughter just helped me dye my 1/2" long hair. Tomorrow is go to church without a hat day! Woo!

Andrea Barnett Budin 09-08-2012 06:16 PM

Loose fingernails...
 
I remember 1/2 " long hair! It was silver. And my then 3 yr granddaughter was sitting at my card table with me when she noticed I dyed it. Her mouth fell open and her eyes were huge(r) than usual. HOW DID YOU DO THAT???!!!, she asked. Then she said, CAN I TOUCH IT???? I smiled and said, Yes, of course, and I still remember her sliding off my leather chair to let her feet touch the floor so she could skeedaddle over to me. I leaned down for her to touch. So funny. She will be 16 in November.

And I am still here, hair and all...

I can recall Melissa Ethridge (the singer) performing post chemo w/her bald head. She looked fabulous! And sounded fantastic! She had on makeup and earrings and sported her non-do proudly. She was gorgeous. Radiant. Full of Life!!! So, Carla, you go girl!! Praise be!

Andi

carlatte7 09-08-2012 06:29 PM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
My DD is 30 next week. :). I am a school nurse and my kiddos in 1st grade ask me every day..."mrs. Rice, do you have hair yet? ". I bought2 wigs and wore one twice...this was not the summer to add fuel to hot flashes! I'd be more comfy with my 1/2" hair if i could get rid of this 25#, but i am happy to be at this stage in my journey- worrying about hair and fingernails. Praise be indeed!

harrie 09-10-2012 12:00 AM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
I had the same problems with my nails and my TCH tx. Tea tree oil worked well and my nails went back to normal later after the tx was done.
FYI, at the time I thought I was getting a fungal infection, went to a nail salon who sold me some antifungal stuff to put on. Fortunately I did not use the fungal stuff and shortly after my onco told me it was from the TCH and recommended the tea tree oil. So don't be like me and make the same initial mistake of thinking it is a fungal infection!

sarah 09-10-2012 05:58 AM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
We had a member of our cancer group whose nails fell off and it was painful, she felt she should have been warned. At the hospital they do have a printed pamphlet with side effects that mentions this but apparently they say it's rare!!! well more common than they think if you ask me. so the tea tree oil helped? good to know will pass this tip on.
good health,
sarah

Andrea Barnett Budin 09-10-2012 09:34 AM

Re: Loose fingernails...
 
I had a beloved friend who when I told her about my nails (she lived in Connecticut and I in Florida) she said, That is unacceptable! Outrageous. I have 10 good nails and I don't need them (she was very sick and rarely went out). If I could, I'd put them in an envelope and mail them to you!

Love. Isn't it beautiful?!

My nails did heal. And w/the 10 yrs of Herceptin they peeled and were frail. But I started using a protein (like Nailtique) that has made my nails even healthier. Goes on under base coat. My nails don't grow long, but they look nice and neat. I like to think of them as a sensible length...


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