HER2+ treatment & nails

Ada85

I noticed after my first chemo treatment my nails started looking different. One in particular had (has) a light faint vertical line down the middle... has anyone else experience this too?

I googled and scared myself looking up all sorts of other things that could be wrong with me. After being diagnosed with BC it’s almost like I live in fear of having everything else. i now feel nervous it could be something else or more C somewhere else which would be devastating to me!!! Feel so overwhelmed as it is and now to worry about something else.... sigh.

Eleanor_W

Hi Ada85,

Others may have more information, but Herceptin can definitely cause nail changes. I've had issues with my nails developing ridges, becoming weak, & peeling. As odd as it sounds, it definitely was different for me, finger by finger. My thumbnails were the worst & it got progressively better as you moved across the hand. I'm still trying to understand why that might have been the case!

Dealing with the cancer & all the SEs can definitely feel overwhelming at times! Hoping you get good info here & from your care team.

NotVeryBrave

The first round of chemo left a deep ridge across each nailbed. Like the poster above, it was worse on my thumbs and got less noticeable moving towards the little finger. I surmised it was due to greater blood flow to the thumbs and major fingers causing greater amounts of chemo to reach them. I didn't do icing or anything. Those ridges grew out, reaching the ends of my fingers around six months later.

I also have had a lot of splitting (both middle fingers repeatedly and others off and on) and peeling. My nails are just not very strong and seem softer than normal now. The toenails as well seem weaker.

It's been four months since I finished Herceptin. I'm hoping they improve soon!

Ada85

I haven’t experienced all that yet but I’m sure soon I will. Which I’m not looking forward too So far my nails look normal for now besides the faint line right in the middle of my right thumb, now I have another fainter one on my index finger too. I noticed it after my second treatment. I looked at the google pictures but it’s not a ridge or across my nail. I hope someone else can shed some light. I just feel nervous it could be something else. And how likely would it be also since I’m already doing treatment. Sooo much to think about...

Thanks Elenor

Ada85

NotVeryBrave, I ice my hands in treatments they provide gloves. I can’t think of anything else that could be different either then treatment and diet but I only noticed the difference after my first and second treatment I’m hoping it’s just a side effect.

Really not looking forward to all the nail loss and other stuff. Already feeling not so great and shaved my head and now worry about something else....

Definitely something I need to bring up on my next appointment.

NotVeryBrave I have read a lot of ladies taking biotin which I will be adding to my regimen in hopes to avoid maybe somewhat of the effects of it is due to that.

Becca953

I read in other topic areas that in addition to icing, paint your nails dark or use OPI Nail Envy (from Amazon.) I used Nail Envy on my fingernails and they looks great. No issues more than two months into treatment so hope they hold up for the last two weeks of chemo.

Ada85

is OPI safe to use Becca953, I read something about trying to stick to water base nail polishes... also can you wear nail polish while getting radiation as well?

I have two more chemo treatments then start radiation after. I hope it’s not too late for me to start. Thanks for the tip Becca.

Becca953

Ada85 - I think it is regular polish but thus far it seems to have worked well. I have also heard of a more natural one called Dr. Remedy. Not sure of the answer to the radiation question. I would run it by your radiation oncologist.