Toenail issues, a year after chemo

I didn't lose any nails, but I did have nail trouble. After chemo the big toes on both feet became ingrown. My podiatrist said that's because chemo makes the nail curve. Both of these toes plus one other turned yellow with ridges and crumbly at the tip. I don't know if it was actually a toenail fungus, but they looked ugly. The podiatrist wouldn't prescribe anything, he said it would grow out. I'm about 18 months pfc and its still not grown out. I read that the camphor in Vicks vaporub might help so I tried it. After four treatments the yellow was gone. They still have ridges and some crumbling, but they are looking much better.

I only had problems with one fingernail, it is still peeling at the tip, even when I use polish.

Hi ladies!

I'm almost 6 years out and I did get a nail fungus in both of my big toenails during chemo. I was on lamisil two times for it and it got rid of the fungus, however both of the nails are still pretty thick. My doctor says that your immune system can't fight the infection while doing chemo. I now get pedicures, because they are hard to cut and they file them down and that seems to be working. It also feels like I'm pampering myself a little which I like and they look pretty.😃 I also heard Vicks will help, I tried for a while but I'm not very diligent about stuff like that. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Pam

It may be you have a low grade fungal or other infection left over from chemo.

I had my toenails separate during chemo and concurrent toenail fungus. The nails grew back ok but I could not get rid of the fungus. It would flair over winter and subside in summer when I only wear sandals. Vicks works great at controlling it but I may have stumbled on something else.

I stopped eating wheat/gluten when I acquired a nasty rash on my hands related to gluten intolerance. In addition to another symptom, my toenail fungus went away. This was in February which is the height of fungal season. Totally surprised, but pleased.

I lost all my nails eventually. I was taking biotin as I was told that was good for hair and nail grow. If it did help I shudder to thing what I would have been like without it. Things improved over the first year after chemo but I still had major lifting on a couple of finger nail beds and crumbling. The lifting finally resolved 6 months after completing herceptin but they're still somewhat crumbly. I have to keep them as short as possible. As to pain, I have several pairs of shoes that I wore comfortably before chemo and now can't walk 50 feet in them due to toenail pain. I really need to get out and try on some new ones. I don't think the pain is going away (it could be part of the neuropathy I have).

It's been almost three years since my last chemo and like clockwork, I lose the same nails on alternating feet every few months (about 6) my nails just lift from the skin and eventually drop off, but by the time they do, there's another nail already growing. It's the strangest thing I've ever heard of. I've had my feet looked and no one felt I had a fungus -all agreed residuals from chemo, even though I iced too.

Sorry you're going through this.

Amy

I think I might have a fungus thing going on and this is 4 years post chemo. my big toe nails have some yellowy stuff going on and it kind of crumbles when i cut them. I too have sore toe nails. Does anyone know if it will go away on its own or if we have to get some treatment for it?

I never had this before the chemo. I think I might Google this now!