Help..fingernails are separating

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joannstar
joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've just finished chemo and my last 2 treatments were Cytoxan/Taxol. My fingernails appear to be separating from the nail bed. I see that the "white" area is extending down to about half way on one nail so far and the sides are white (instead of the normal pink color) which I'm thinking means that the nail is going to come off. I am a bookkeeper and am on the computer keyboard about 7 hours a day.
Has anyone had this happen and if so, what did you do? Can it be prevented?
Thanks for your help.
JoAnn

Comments

  • cookie97
    cookie97 Member Posts: 200
    #2
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    That happened to me too
    Yeah another one of those little annoying things we didn't know about. Mine were doing the same thing as were my toe nails and they hurt. I talked to the onc nurse and she recommended that first i trim them short, keep them clean and soak in peroxide periodically. Since I had already finished chemo it didn't progress to any more than a little lifting from nail bed, I did not lose any. I also learned later that had I soaked my fingers in ice or ice packs during treatment this may not have happened. Too little too late, alas!! :(
    Since you've completed chemo perhaps you will have the same results.

    Good luck and glad you're DONE with chemo!
    Peace and love,
    Edie
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #3
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    cookie97 said:

    That happened to me too
    Yeah another one of those little annoying things we didn't know about. Mine were doing the same thing as were my toe nails and they hurt. I talked to the onc nurse and she recommended that first i trim them short, keep them clean and soak in peroxide periodically. Since I had already finished chemo it didn't progress to any more than a little lifting from nail bed, I did not lose any. I also learned later that had I soaked my fingers in ice or ice packs during treatment this may not have happened. Too little too late, alas!! :(
    Since you've completed chemo perhaps you will have the same results.

    Good luck and glad you're DONE with chemo!
    Peace and love,
    Edie

    Thanks Edie
    I trimmed them this morning and do keep them clean. I will start to soak them in peroxide. The nails haven't separated yet, just a bit of lifting so maybe, like you, I will be lucky.
    So far my toenails are ok, however the skin on my soles is starting to peel.
    I'll just keep repeating that I'M DONE with CHEMO!!
    Hugs,
    JoAnn
  • racergirl
    racergirl Member Posts: 50
    #4
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    I too had this happen. The
    I too had this happen. The top og the nail came off but the nail bed stayed put. They are in the process of growing back, just as your hair does, it just takes time. Keeping them a short as you can helps. I now carry a finger nail clipper with me, so that if the nail bed catches on something I can trim it quickly. For the most part they don't hurt. Good luck
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #5
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    Nail Envy by OPI
    This worked wonders on/with my nails. The hairdresser who did the Look Good Feel Beter class suggested this and gave a sample bottle out. I never had decent nails in my life until I started using the Nail Envy - I'll never be without it again. I've tried other 'nail strenghteners' over the years and nothing had ever done any good - it would usually just peel off - no so with the Nail Envy.

    My toe nails are the only ones that actually came off during/after chemo. Fungus has been an issue with them since the end of Chemo (never had any before) and now am using Clotrimazole which seems to be working. If it doesn't then it'll be pills that I really don't want to take.

    Susan
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #6
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    I had this too!
    My nails did not come totally off, but they did separate much further down the nail bed for a while. I just kept them trimmed and kept nail polish on them so that I wouldn't have to see it!

    They look normal now, but they do seem to be a bit thinner and more brittle than they were before all this fun stuff. One of my big toenails is still not quite there yet, and I finished chemo last February - it's almost grown out, but I didn't expect it to take this long!

    I think I'm going to give that Nail Envy a try - thanks for the tip!
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
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    cindycflynn said:

    I had this too!
    My nails did not come totally off, but they did separate much further down the nail bed for a while. I just kept them trimmed and kept nail polish on them so that I wouldn't have to see it!

    They look normal now, but they do seem to be a bit thinner and more brittle than they were before all this fun stuff. One of my big toenails is still not quite there yet, and I finished chemo last February - it's almost grown out, but I didn't expect it to take this long!

    I think I'm going to give that Nail Envy a try - thanks for the tip!

    The Nail Envy will smooth
    The Nail Envy will smooth out the splitting/layering and hold it together - at least it did for me. It's not the cheapest - about $20 a bottle and must be gotten from salons - but a bottle will last 4 - 5 months so it isn't all that bad. It dries quite fast and what I do IF I'm wanting to put polish on which is very seldom if ever - is put the Nail Envy on first and then the polish or the polish will peel off in sheets (like it always has) but with NE under and over it will stay on for a few days anyway which is as long as I can tolerate having 'painted nails'.
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #8
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    Rague said:

    The Nail Envy will smooth
    The Nail Envy will smooth out the splitting/layering and hold it together - at least it did for me. It's not the cheapest - about $20 a bottle and must be gotten from salons - but a bottle will last 4 - 5 months so it isn't all that bad. It dries quite fast and what I do IF I'm wanting to put polish on which is very seldom if ever - is put the Nail Envy on first and then the polish or the polish will peel off in sheets (like it always has) but with NE under and over it will stay on for a few days anyway which is as long as I can tolerate having 'painted nails'.

    Thanks for the suggestion
    of Nail Envy. My onc had said to leave my nails "natural" so they could breathe...now that I'm done with Chemo I'll ask again because they could really use some help to look better. I'm looking forward to getting the ok to have pedicures again!
    Thank you all for your feedback.
    Hugs,
    JoAnn
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #9
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    Nails
    I didn't have nails that came off (then again, I have very short nails to being with), but I did use natural tea tree oil on them and that seemed to help keep them healthy. Good luck.

    Mimi
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #10
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    Mine started lifting like
    Mine started lifting like that about a month and a half after my last chemo. All together I think 5 of my nails lifted, then broke off about halfway down the nail. And yesterday I lost a toe nail! Like others have said, I keep mine trimmed very short now.
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #11
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    Hope this helps!
    "Just as chemotherapy affects your hair because of the rapidly dividing hair follicle cells, it also affects your nails.

    You may see a line in the nail related to the cycle of chemotherapy. This line is not permanent and grows out with the nail, usually in about six months. There may even be multiple lines and indentations reflecting the different cycles of chemotherapy.

    Your nails may become pigmented or discolored. They may become more brittle, so they won't grow as long as they used to and may break more easily.

    The area around the nail bed may become dry, and your cuticles may fray. Don't rip or peel off the loose cuticle. Cut it carefully with a CLEAN pair of nail scissors.

    The nail may actually lift off the nail bed. While this, too, is reversible, you need to be very careful, for two reasons. First, the nail is more vulnerable and may fall off. Second, because the nail is not tightly bound to the nail bed, it can become a site for bacteria to enter. So be sure to practice excellent hygiene to avoid infection.

    Nail care is first-line prevention for lymphedema, a condition that develops when lymph fluid accumulates in the soft tissues of the arm, causing it to swell. If you've had an underarm lymph node dissection (with mastectomy or lumpectomy), you should be particular careful of damage to the nail, such as hangnails or cuts or burns on the hands or fingers, which could lead to infection.


    Tips for Better Nail Care
    Clip your nails short. Imperfections show up less in short nails.
    Don't cut your cuticles. Use cuticle remover cream or gels and push your nails back gently.
    Don't bite your nails or cuticles, particularly on the hand on the same side as your affected breast. If you have a hard time stopping, consider wearing thin white cotton gloves around the house to help you break this habit.
    Massage cuticle cream into the cuticle area daily to prevent dryness, splitting, and hangnails.
    Wear gloves while doing chores, such as washing dishes. Excessive exposure to water can lead to fungal infections of the nail bed.
    Wear nail polish to help keep nails strong and protected from the environment (and looking nice, too). If your nails are very dry or falling off, you might want to consider a nail moisturizer instead of polish.
    Dry nails can become weaker or more brittle during chemotherapy treatment. To take off polish, use non-acetone-based remover, which is less drying than acetone.
    Don't use acrylics or other nail wraps. Fake nails can trap bacteria that may cause infection.
    If you have a professional manicure, bring your own instruments, regardless of how the salon cleans theirs.
    Ask a professional manicurist for more information on daily home care to keep your nails healthy and strong.
    Alert your doctor to any signs of inflammation or infection."

    From: http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/nails.jsp
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #12
    Options
    CypressCynthia said:

    Hope this helps!
    "Just as chemotherapy affects your hair because of the rapidly dividing hair follicle cells, it also affects your nails.

    You may see a line in the nail related to the cycle of chemotherapy. This line is not permanent and grows out with the nail, usually in about six months. There may even be multiple lines and indentations reflecting the different cycles of chemotherapy.

    Your nails may become pigmented or discolored. They may become more brittle, so they won't grow as long as they used to and may break more easily.

    The area around the nail bed may become dry, and your cuticles may fray. Don't rip or peel off the loose cuticle. Cut it carefully with a CLEAN pair of nail scissors.

    The nail may actually lift off the nail bed. While this, too, is reversible, you need to be very careful, for two reasons. First, the nail is more vulnerable and may fall off. Second, because the nail is not tightly bound to the nail bed, it can become a site for bacteria to enter. So be sure to practice excellent hygiene to avoid infection.

    Nail care is first-line prevention for lymphedema, a condition that develops when lymph fluid accumulates in the soft tissues of the arm, causing it to swell. If you've had an underarm lymph node dissection (with mastectomy or lumpectomy), you should be particular careful of damage to the nail, such as hangnails or cuts or burns on the hands or fingers, which could lead to infection.


    Tips for Better Nail Care
    Clip your nails short. Imperfections show up less in short nails.
    Don't cut your cuticles. Use cuticle remover cream or gels and push your nails back gently.
    Don't bite your nails or cuticles, particularly on the hand on the same side as your affected breast. If you have a hard time stopping, consider wearing thin white cotton gloves around the house to help you break this habit.
    Massage cuticle cream into the cuticle area daily to prevent dryness, splitting, and hangnails.
    Wear gloves while doing chores, such as washing dishes. Excessive exposure to water can lead to fungal infections of the nail bed.
    Wear nail polish to help keep nails strong and protected from the environment (and looking nice, too). If your nails are very dry or falling off, you might want to consider a nail moisturizer instead of polish.
    Dry nails can become weaker or more brittle during chemotherapy treatment. To take off polish, use non-acetone-based remover, which is less drying than acetone.
    Don't use acrylics or other nail wraps. Fake nails can trap bacteria that may cause infection.
    If you have a professional manicure, bring your own instruments, regardless of how the salon cleans theirs.
    Ask a professional manicurist for more information on daily home care to keep your nails healthy and strong.
    Alert your doctor to any signs of inflammation or infection."

    From: http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/nails.jsp

    Thank you all!
    Your comments are helpful!!
    I'm sorry that so many of us had this experience, but it is nice to know I have/had lots of company.
    Hugs to us all.
    JoAnn
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #13
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    joannstar said:

    Thanks for the suggestion
    of Nail Envy. My onc had said to leave my nails "natural" so they could breathe...now that I'm done with Chemo I'll ask again because they could really use some help to look better. I'm looking forward to getting the ok to have pedicures again!
    Thank you all for your feedback.
    Hugs,
    JoAnn

    I never asked my Chemo Dr
    I never asked my Chemo Dr about the Nail Envy - the Look Good Feel Better class I went to was done at the CCI and the Nurse Navigator was there for the class and said that it was great so I used it. AND it was/is great - for me anyway.

    Susan
  • jchristina
    jchristina Member Posts: 9
    #14
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    Solution to your Nail Problem
    Hi JoAnn,

    I just finished my last Taxol treatment on 1/3 and experienced weak nails that would easily break. I found that baby oil was good for the hands & toe cuticles. I spread it everywhere on my feet before I showered. I also started to use "Nailtiques" nail protein Formula 2 and now have short but healthier nails. You can buy this at almost any drug store (not cheap) but totally worth it. Also keep moisturizing your hands as often as possible and stay away from hot water.

    Good luck!

    JChristina
  • JuJu54
    JuJu54 Member Posts: 8
    #15
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    Me too!
    Fortunately none of my finger nails fell off (my 2 pinky toe nails did!), but they all lifted, and were extremely painful. They also had a horrible odor which was awful. One of my onc nurses also recommended to keep them short, and soak them in white vinegar 2 times a day for about 5 minutes to get rid of the odor and prevent infection. It helped a lot. They grow back - but it seems ever so slowly! Hope this helps. Good luck!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #16
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    joannstar said:

    Thanks Edie
    I trimmed them this morning and do keep them clean. I will start to soak them in peroxide. The nails haven't separated yet, just a bit of lifting so maybe, like you, I will be lucky.
    So far my toenails are ok, however the skin on my soles is starting to peel.
    I'll just keep repeating that I'M DONE with CHEMO!!
    Hugs,
    JoAnn

    Congrats on being done with
    Congrats on being done with chemo!


    Hugs, Jan
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #17
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    JuJu54 said:

    Me too!
    Fortunately none of my finger nails fell off (my 2 pinky toe nails did!), but they all lifted, and were extremely painful. They also had a horrible odor which was awful. One of my onc nurses also recommended to keep them short, and soak them in white vinegar 2 times a day for about 5 minutes to get rid of the odor and prevent infection. It helped a lot. They grow back - but it seems ever so slowly! Hope this helps. Good luck!

    Thanks so much for
    the suggestions. I've been very careful with my hands and been applying "hoof alive" which seems to be helping them not be so dry. I will try soaking my hands. The nails also don't seem to be separating any further. Of course I'm only 8 days out of chemo and I'm hoping to not experience any other side effects. I have an appointment with my onc on 1/25 for him to hopefully ok the next step--radiation.
    Hugs to you all!
    Love,
    JoAnn
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #18
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    joannstar said:

    Thank you all!
    Your comments are helpful!!
    I'm sorry that so many of us had this experience, but it is nice to know I have/had lots of company.
    Hugs to us all.
    JoAnn

    I didn't take chemo, so, I
    I didn't take chemo, so, I didn't have this. But, wanted to say Congrats to you for finishing chemo!


    Hugs, Diane
  • EllenaMaria
    EllenaMaria Member Posts: 69
    #19
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    joannstar said:

    Thanks so much for
    the suggestions. I've been very careful with my hands and been applying "hoof alive" which seems to be helping them not be so dry. I will try soaking my hands. The nails also don't seem to be separating any further. Of course I'm only 8 days out of chemo and I'm hoping to not experience any other side effects. I have an appointment with my onc on 1/25 for him to hopefully ok the next step--radiation.
    Hugs to you all!
    Love,
    JoAnn

    Congrats on finishing chemo.
    I read all the stuff about nails but it still freaked me one to one day see the white lines appear. It is like they all of the sudden appeared one by one. Soon every finger had the chemo lines on them. I completed chemo 7/12/10 and the last line just finally grew out. I noticed my nails would break off much easier than normal and when they did it was always just where they touch the nailbed. I tried to just keep them all short. The other day two broke off again. I think it takes a good 6 months to grow out all the old damaged nails.

    I was really mad when a gal at one of the mall kiosks tried to stop me the other day to tell me my nails could use help. I wanted to go off on her but she had no idea that telling me that would hurt my feelings. I did tell her very kindly that I have been sick so I would stop by some other time.

    Once again, I am reminded by all of you how much harder things could have been for me.
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #20
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    EllenaMaria said:

    Congrats on finishing chemo.
    I read all the stuff about nails but it still freaked me one to one day see the white lines appear. It is like they all of the sudden appeared one by one. Soon every finger had the chemo lines on them. I completed chemo 7/12/10 and the last line just finally grew out. I noticed my nails would break off much easier than normal and when they did it was always just where they touch the nailbed. I tried to just keep them all short. The other day two broke off again. I think it takes a good 6 months to grow out all the old damaged nails.

    I was really mad when a gal at one of the mall kiosks tried to stop me the other day to tell me my nails could use help. I wanted to go off on her but she had no idea that telling me that would hurt my feelings. I did tell her very kindly that I have been sick so I would stop by some other time.

    Once again, I am reminded by all of you how much harder things could have been for me.

    I know what you mean about
    people making comments who have no idea of how they effect us. I haven't had much patience lately and have been less than generous with stupid people...it is tourist season here in South Florida and I'm finding people totally self-absorbed.
    I hope that my nails recover quickly--they are whitish down to about half-way and while I know it is temporary, I'm just tired of it all...and being about 9 days out of Chemo, I'm expecting things to be better now...I guess I also don't have a lot of patience with myself either.
    Thanks for your encouragement all...I know now that this too shall pass.
    Love,
    JoAnn
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #21
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    Congrats JoAnn on finishing
    Congrats JoAnn on finishing chemo. Some great advice given already but I wanted to share my experience. Mine was in my toenails, they started to turn white in areas and looked as if they would fall off. I started taking "biotin" which is good for hair and nails, the nails came out of it and my hair came in fast, thick, and curls. Hope this helps. Of course talk to your doctor about taking any supplements.
    Hugz
    Kari

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