taxol and nail problems

I had the same problem with Taxol, and am aware of a number of other people who lost nails. Most of us didn't have problems until toward the end of treatment, or even after it was over.

My opinion is that there is a big gap inn the literature regarding side-effects of Taxol. After losing nails, getting neuropathy, having constant tearing, and having peripheral edema so bad that I gained 25 pounds, and listening to my oncologist say over and over and over again "these aren't the side effects of Taxol," I wanted to scream. Since then, so many of my friends have had similar complaints, and heard the same thing, that I have to think there's something wrong with their info. Definitely, it's a side effect of Taxol!

I lost every fingernail and toenail after dose dense taxol and they are still sort of brittle and split easily a year later. I taped them down until they were very loose so it wasn't especially painful when they finally came off.

I've heard that keeping the hands cool during the treatment helps, some recommend gelatin.

My sister Debbie has had severe nail problems while on Taxol/Avastin/Carboplatin. (a little of her story: she is 47 & single, was diag in Dec 2004 with a 4x 6 cm mass in her left breast, had a single mastectomy in Jan 2005 w/one positive node of 17 tested, had A/C, finished and thought all was well....and then in Dec 2005 found out her triple neg B/C had recurred to her liver with "tumors too numerous to count up to 5 cm in size" (or maybe it was there all along since she wasn't scanned for it before it was found while she was scanned for possible gall bladder problems) and she has been on disability from work had to sell her house and move in with our parents and has been on pretty much non-stop chemo since Dec 2005...many different drugs and combos - most only worked for a short time. The Taxol/Avastin/Carboplatin mix has worked the longest so far and initially resulted in shrinkage of her tumors and then kept her cancer relatively stable for several months before she had to take a chemo break this spring/summer because of other issues)

On the latest Taxol/Avastin/Carboplatin mix after about three months her nails first became odd colored, then painful and partially lifted, and eventually several became infected underneath and oozed. After trying two different antibiotic treatments that didn't work, the infection was finally tested and found positive for a resistant kind of Staph and she had to take some heavy duty antibiotics and have six nails surgically removed by a plastic surgeon before her hands and feet finally healed. Since that, she's had another couple of nails just fall off. It's really affected her QOL since her hands and feet were so painful and she has a lot of other neropathy elsewhere too as well as sciatic nerve pain. The nail problem really only resolved during her almost three month break from chemo this spring/summer...and we just found out from her latest scans last week that her cancer has progressed dramatically again during the break...so she was put back on the Taxol/Avastin/carboplatin last Friday. Her Onc has told her that this is the last combo he knows to try...so if it doesn't work again now she doesn't know what to do and we're starting to feel a little desparate.... Anybody have a list of chemo's that have been helpful for Triple negative b/c liver mets so she could compare it against the list of what she's already had to see if there's anything her onc has missed? This board has been so helpful, even though I'm usually just a "lurker" gathering information for her rather than posting. You all have my greatest admiration for your willingness to help others while you're going through so much yourselves, you've already helped us more than you can know....thanks. Sorry this is so long, I should probably have posted my info request in a separate thread. jae

My finger and toenails first turned purple. Easy enough to cover with nail polish. But one by one they feel off. Well didnt really fall off, more like they peeled off. Im 2 years out of treatment and my nails have never been stronger - so hang in there.

Nicki

I as well have had difficulties with my nails after Taxol.  I agree with you that there is a gap in the information!  My oncologists continued to tell me that my leg and ankel edema had nothing to do with the taxol.  My nails started to fall off after I completed my taxol treatments.  I am 4 months post last Taxol dose and my nails are very discolored and look like I have a sever nail fungus.  The neuropathy in my feet is terrible and due to the pain numbness I'm not exercising like I used to and have gained sooo much weight!

I had taxotere during my first diagnosis in 2000.  I had four rounds after 4 founds of adriamycin/cytoxan.  The taxotere made my fingernails hurt a lot.  They did fall out on most fingers and toes.  When treatment stopped, all grew back.  It was painful to do things like make my bed...things that you use the tips of fingers for.  It was temporary.  Sore throat and sinus headache were other side effects I had with taxotere.  Jean

I had my last taxol on April 30 and have had problems with my nails ever since. Toenails are pretty much back to normal, nails on left hand are back completely, nails on right hand a mess. Four of the five are slowly lifting from the nail beds and it's getting worse, not better. They also hurt from any soaps or cleaning fluids, and I have the same problem jmarie had with anything requiring the use of the tips of my fingers. Of course, the neuropathy in my fingertips, though it has somewhat abated, hasn't helped.

And let's not forget the neuropathy on the bottoms of my feet, which is still pretty bad.

Yes, the gift that keeps on giving.

Leah

I was told that there were no side effects to the Avastin. I'm sorry to hear that others are having the same problem I am having. I finished Taxol in January, 2010 and am still on Avastin as a clinical trial. My nails are now starting to separate from my fingernails, and only one of them is painful. I've trimmed the nails very short so I don't snag them on anything and pull them loose faster, but apparently that is a futile effort, since so many others have lost their nails. It's good news that they will finally come back in, but I imagine I will lose a few completely before that happens. You're right, the docs don't tell you everything. Remember . . . when something is going to be painful as heck, they say "you'll experience a little discomfort"!