Loss of toe nails 3 years post treatment

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Celine-Hertzog
Celine-Hertzog Member Posts: 6
edited November 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

imageimage

hello,

During my daughters wedding reception last weekend ... Two toe nails fell off , same toe on each foot..

( first photo is from 3 weeks ago when I changed nail polish , nail was raised but again no pain . Second pic is from last night , about 3 days after nail fell off . No pic of left toe nail but it looks the same just no brown spot )

No pain thankfully , nail is growing back but one has a brown spot ..

No injury that I can recall ...

I know I should discuss it with doctors but I am not seeing my onc till October ..

The advice from this community is a valuable tool while trying to understand what has happened to our bodies .. Both short and long term ..

Diagnosed in 2012

Right breast lump 5cm IDC stage 2a.. Ep + HER- no spreading to lymph nodes , partial mastectomy

DCIS in left breast , lumpectomy

Chemo/surgery/rad

Treatment ended 2013

Refused to take any of the hormonal pills afterwards .. Forget their names lol but I just couldn't cope with side effects anymore

Thank you

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited August 2016

    I think it would be very odd if it were still chemo related. I'd ask my GP or go right to a podiatrist. It is probably some sort of fungal infection.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited August 2016
    I started having a similar toe nail issue about two years after chemo completion. I don't have brown spots but the nails corner is detached from the nail bed on both toes - symmetrically. Finally went to see a podiatrist ten days ago. He said he had seen this with several people who had chemo - two to three years later. He sent samples to a lab to make sure it is not fungal, I don't yet have the results.
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  • Celine-Hertzog
    Celine-Hertzog Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    well there are no symptoms of fungal infection

    Any one ever see or have mets to nail bed?

    Brown spot is not painful not itchy .. Possible melenoma ?

    Would it be unwise to wait

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited August 2016

    I wouldn't worry about mets or melanoma. Fungal or some kind of infection is a possibility - there are many different types. If it's not fungal it will most likely heal on its own but toe nails take much longer to grow compared to finger nails, so you have to be patient.

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  • Celine-Hertzog
    Celine-Hertzog Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    I do have some mild neuropathy so that was my thought too but I was wearing sandals , flat .. It was a beach wedding ..

    Well I guess I should see my family doctor atleast and if it's still there in October I will as my oncologist

    Thank you

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited August 2016

    I went to the dermatologist today about my fingernails. She said no fungus, it would be a waste of money to send a clipping. She is sure it is from the taxotere....1.5 out. Still on H&P.

    No eyelashes to speak of, no eyebrows either. No fingernails, very little boobs....it is a dang good thing I have a great personality! Lol....need one for Crying on the Inside....maybe COTI!

    Brenda E

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  • Celine-Hertzog
    Celine-Hertzog Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    lol you sure do have a great personality!

    There is some anecdotal evidence that it can be from chemo after 3 years ...

    Every little change or abnormalities and we jump to the C word..

    f-Ing cance

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  • Bagsharon
    Bagsharon Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2016

    I've lost toenails from running. If your toes rub the top of your shoes, you develop a blister under the nail which turns black or brown and cause loss of the nail. I'm guessing you were wearing new shoes at the wedding and there may have been some dancing?

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  • Celine-Hertzog
    Celine-Hertzog Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    nope.. I wore flat open toe sandals (beach wedding )

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited August 2016

    You are NOT alone. I've been losing my toenails regularly since CT (Cytoxin and Taxotere) April 2013 thru early July, 2013. No fungus, no infection just a SE of this chemo. It's the same two nails on both feet every six months. The nail lifts, then falls off with a new half-formed nail underneath. I just started to feel pain right before the nail would drop, just recently. Otherwise no warning.

    I'm convinced it's a permanent SE of CT and I don't know why yours couldn't be as well, even three years later.

    Amy

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  • Celine-Hertzog
    Celine-Hertzog Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2016

    Hmm ok hate to say " good to hear".. But ya.. Sigh

    I'm in bed today with pain in my lower back and for some reason my siatica is hurting in my left side , never had issues with that before ...if it keeps up I will have to call onc

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited September 2016

    My nail issue - nail corners being detached from the nail bed on both toes - turned out to be fungal in nature. I am now applying some solution. Interestingly enough it started improving after I got my first Prolia shot back in July.

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited November 2017

    My large toenail stopped growing and turned dark during chemo, then detached at the bottom (and had to be removed) one year after chemo. Didn’t start regrowing until half a year after that (last summer). The new growth at the top is deformed and I’ll need a podiatrist to trim it when it’s time (growing slowly, not yet at the top). But the newer portion of the nail looks norma. I was told this late nail loss is very common after Taxotere chemo.

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