Maybe it is not the herceptin...nail changes from docetaxel

[Lani]

Support Care Cancer. 2007 Feb 22; [Epub ahead of print]
Nail changes due to docetaxel-a neglected side effect and nuisance for the patient.

Winther D,
Saunte DM,
Knap M,
Haahr V,
Jensen AB.
Section of Clinical Research, Department of Oncology, Aarhus Sygehus, Norrebrogade 44, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark, abjen@as.aaa.dk.
GOALS OF WORK: The objective of this study is to estimate the frequency and severity of nail changes due to treatment with the cytotoxic drug docetaxel and, secondly, to estimate how the nail changes effects the patients cosmetically and functionally in their daily activities. Finally, we want to clarify whether fungal infection could contribute in causing the nail changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer in treatment with the cytotoxic drug docetaxel participated in the study. They filled out two questionnaires about their experience with possible nail changes. The frequency of fungal infection was examined. At each of the two visits, information about the number of treatment cycles, dose of docetaxel the patient received, frequency of lymph oedema, previous treatment with chemotherapy and the reason of discontinuance of treatment, if relevant, were registered. Finally, photos were taken to document the nail changes in hands and feet. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent had some degree of nail changes and an increase to 88.5% was seen after three additional cycles. A large proportion of the patients experienced the nail changes as a cosmetic nuisance, and more than 32% had functional problems. CONCLUSION: Nail changes occur more frequently than previous studies have shown. Furthermore, our study indicates that the nail changes are affecting a large proportion of the patients, both cosmetically and functionally, which may lead to a decrease in their quality of life. No significant association was found according to the possible relation between nail changes and fungal infection.
PMID: 17318589 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[StephN]

Thanks Lani -
Funny they took so long to document this.
Most of us KNEW that. I recall threads on this board from over 3 years ago on this subject and no one posted that they did NOT have nail problems on Taxotere or Taxol. Just some worse than others.

I had white stripes across my nails corresponding to each Taxotere treatment. When my fingernails grew out to that point they simply broke off as that part of the nail had been killed by the treatment. My nails had stripes corresponding to the 4 every 3 week treatments I took.

There is nothing like that happening to my nails in my several years on Herceptin alone. It just takes a while for the "chemo nails" to grow out and new healthy ones to come in. I also took a special vitamin formula for hair, skin and nails.

[Bev]

Thanks Lani,

As we know, these things are psychosomatic until there is data to prove their existence. Uh-oh, I'm having a cynical moment.
Still waiting for my nails to come back, BB