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Cristina19 · 05-15-2008, 11:34 PM

Hi Doug,

I did 6 rounds of TCH and somewhere in there (round 2 or 3) my fingernails became VERY sensitive. I didn't have "lines" but a reddish area, like a bruise, under the most sensitive nails.

I tried tea tree oil as recommended by some of the women on this site, but I don't know if it helped. I also took a pretty heavy dose of Glutamine (available in a powder form, not capsules). I think it was something like 10 GRAMS per day (5 in the am; 5 in the pm; which basically amounted to a teaspoon morning and night) for the 4 days after chemo. There have been some studies that have shown that Glutamine helps prevent neuropathy.

see: http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.or.../full/7/5/1192

So, after I got myself on that routine, the soreness of the nails stopped.

I got lazy at my 6th infusion and I didn't take my Glutamine. I don't know if it was stopping the Glutamine or simply the cummulative effect of the Taxotere on my body, but after round 6, my nails went into total rebellion!! They got extremely sore, nails lifted, one finger on each hand started to ooze lymph (so then I had to worry about avoiding infection under the nail). My toenails behaved the same way, especially on my left foot. Where the blood/bruise didn't drain, I ended up with a scab under the nail (big black spot and raised nail) that is growing out slowly.

I am now 5 months after the end of chemo. The nails are growing in, but some are still 1/3 lifted. The toenails grow back more slowly. I keep them very short to avoid snagging them on anything. The good news is that they are growing back, even if they look pretty ugly.

Sigh....

They DO grow back!

Hang in there!
Cristina

05-15-2008, 11:34 PM	#6
Cristina19 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38	Hi Doug, I did 6 rounds of TCH and somewhere in there (round 2 or 3) my fingernails became VERY sensitive. I didn't have "lines" but a reddish area, like a bruise, under the most sensitive nails. I tried tea tree oil as recommended by some of the women on this site, but I don't know if it helped. I also took a pretty heavy dose of Glutamine (available in a powder form, not capsules). I think it was something like 10 GRAMS per day (5 in the am; 5 in the pm; which basically amounted to a teaspoon morning and night) for the 4 days after chemo. There have been some studies that have shown that Glutamine helps prevent neuropathy. see: http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.or.../full/7/5/1192 So, after I got myself on that routine, the soreness of the nails stopped. I got lazy at my 6th infusion and I didn't take my Glutamine. I don't know if it was stopping the Glutamine or simply the cummulative effect of the Taxotere on my body, but after round 6, my nails went into total rebellion!! They got extremely sore, nails lifted, one finger on each hand started to ooze lymph (so then I had to worry about avoiding infection under the nail). My toenails behaved the same way, especially on my left foot. Where the blood/bruise didn't drain, I ended up with a scab under the nail (big black spot and raised nail) that is growing out slowly. I am now 5 months after the end of chemo. The nails are growing in, but some are still 1/3 lifted. The toenails grow back more slowly. I keep them very short to avoid snagging them on anything. The good news is that they are growing back, even if they look pretty ugly. Sigh.... They DO grow back! Hang in there! Cristina __________________ Diagnosed May 2007 Right breast mastectomy with immediate free-TRAM reconstruction DCIS (extensive) and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (1.2 cm) Sentinel Node negative Stage 1 ER +, PR -, HER2 +++ 6 rounds Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin currently on Herceptin alone started Tamoxifen in February 2008