LOSING MY FINGERNAILS

kathy6

I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer on April 5 and had a mastectomy. I have went thru 4 Chemo treatments of Adriamycin and 12 treatments of Taxotere, having it once a week with a break every three weeks. My last treatment was November 14. A few weeks before my last treatment my fingernails started to hurt and are discolored some. I have two nails that are about ready to come off, they are only connected close to my cuticle. I have others that are lose and two more that aren't lose but hurt when I touch them. Has anyone else out there lost any fingernails, is there anything that I can do, and how long did it take them to come back? I start radiation treatments on Monday, 5 days a week for 7 weeks. Has anyone had any side effects from radiation regarding their fingernails?

Thanks ahead of time for any responses that I receive.

Happy Holidays!

Kathy

grandma

Hi Kat, when I was on taxotere, my nails turned black striped, looked awful. was ok about 3 months after stopping treatments, but.....
My husband had taxotere also, his nails got infected and started coming off, lost them all one at a time, also he had a fungus along with the infection, it effected his toe nails also.
His last treatment was in July, and his nails look good now, real short still, but healthy.
He had radiation, and it didn't bother his nails.
Hope this helped you.Love, Hugs and Prayers---Flo

hummingbyrd

Dear Kathy,
Welcome aboard, you've come to a wonderful site with lots of tender hearted, loving fellow sisters. It's an elite group, only certain special people are allowed in. Although I never said they asked to get in!
I'm sure your nails are a side effect of the chemo. They hit you pretty hard and heavy and remember chemotherapy drugs are aimed at destroying fast growing (dividing) tissues (hair, nails, tumors). My guess would be they will grow back in about 8-12 weeks. Hang in there and stay positive!
I was diagnosed 6/00, with 13/27+ lymph nodes, stage 4 in 5/01 due to bone mets. Praise the Lord I'm still here! Remember...Everything is possible for him who believes! Mark 10:23
God bless. hummingbyrd
By the way, we all have web sites here, so you can get to know us better. Then make your own when you feel like it. I think its very helpful to write down what you've been through. If your interested I have a site on the internet that just tells you how I coped with all of this, it's
www.conqueringcancerthroughchrist.com
just type that into address bar and it will take you right to it. I have links w/ scriptures that were special to me, healing prayers, a resource page...hope it helps.

kathy6

grandma said:

Hi Kat, when I was on taxotere, my nails turned black striped, looked awful. was ok about 3 months after stopping treatments, but.....
My husband had taxotere also, his nails got infected and started coming off, lost them all one at a time, also he had a fungus along with the infection, it effected his toe nails also.
His last treatment was in July, and his nails look good now, real short still, but healthy.
He had radiation, and it didn't bother his nails.
Hope this helped you.Love, Hugs and Prayers---Flo

Thanks for your reply. Did your husbands nails fall off by themselves, or did he help them along? My thumbnail is just hanging on by the cuticle. I was wondering if it would just fall off by itself or not.

Talk to you later.

Kat

pamtriggs

It definitely is a response to Taxotere. That was the worst chemo for me. The others were easy compared to that. I did not lose my nails but they got very ridged & weak & they still crack off as soon as they reach to the top of my finger & I used to have beautiful nails. Once they have dropped off the pain should go but there will be no great improvement as long as you are on Taxotere. Sorry about that message of gloom. Still at least you are alive. Look on the bright side.
Love & hugs
Pam