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Andrea Barnett Budin · 07-20-2007, 10:50 AM

Taxotere! One day I said to my husband I know this sounds strange but the tips of my fingers hurt! Yet another weird side effect I thought. Then my fingernails turned dark blue and then BLACK. Then they started lifting off the nail bed. There was this crusty oozy stuff between the nail and the bed. I went to a dermatologist to be certain it wasn't a fungus. NOT. I kept getting manicures weekly as I needed to cling to old routines as my head was bald so no real maintenance there. I did keep shampooing and conditioning, to keep my scalp fresh.

Any way, I switched to just a change of polish and used dark red nail polish to cover up the nails. They never fell off. I did 9 mnths of Taxotere. Once I said to my onc, I wish it was my toe nails, so people wouldn't have to look at it. No, if i were your toe nails, you'd have trouble walking. So careful what you wish for, as they say!

I've been on the Herceptin since '98 w/fatigue and flagging red bld cells (HGB) but absolutely no aches or pains or headaches. I do have a rashy looking declotee area but no itch. Just looks sunburnt. And a little on the inside of my upper arms. And I am always a bit foggy feeling. After all these years, I am used to living with the fog. I take supplements to help with the memory thing and they work! (Listed in 6/30 thread TO "SUPPLEMENT" OR WAIT, if you're interestede.)

Good luck. Wishing you NED forever... Sending loving, healthy energy your way... ANDI

07-20-2007, 10:50 AM	#3
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Katsc49 Taxotere! One day I said to my husband I know this sounds strange but the tips of my fingers hurt! Yet another weird side effect I thought. Then my fingernails turned dark blue and then BLACK. Then they started lifting off the nail bed. There was this crusty oozy stuff between the nail and the bed. I went to a dermatologist to be certain it wasn't a fungus. NOT. I kept getting manicures weekly as I needed to cling to old routines as my head was bald so no real maintenance there. I did keep shampooing and conditioning, to keep my scalp fresh. Any way, I switched to just a change of polish and used dark red nail polish to cover up the nails. They never fell off. I did 9 mnths of Taxotere. Once I said to my onc, I wish it was my toe nails, so people wouldn't have to look at it. No, if i were your toe nails, you'd have trouble walking. So careful what you wish for, as they say! I've been on the Herceptin since '98 w/fatigue and flagging red bld cells (HGB) but absolutely no aches or pains or headaches. I do have a rashy looking declotee area but no itch. Just looks sunburnt. And a little on the inside of my upper arms. And I am always a bit foggy feeling. After all these years, I am used to living with the fog. I take supplements to help with the memory thing and they work! (Listed in 6/30 thread TO "SUPPLEMENT" OR WAIT, if you're interestede.) Good luck. Wishing you NED forever... Sending loving, healthy energy your way... ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...