Losing toenails

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HaveFaith65
HaveFaith65 Member Posts: 4
edited July 2017 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I have already completed my regimen of Adriamycin/Cytoxan which started on January 5th, a total of 4 treatments every other week, and finally finishing on February 17th. I then started my weekly doses of Taxol for a total of 12 treatmentson Mar 3rd and will also receive 4 doses of Carboplatin on treatments #1, 4,, 7, and 10. I have developed neuropathy in my fingers and feet. My big toes look like little drumettes that have been drained of all of its blood. My feet are swollen and hurt today and it looks like the big toe on my left foot is oozing (well it feels wet), so I am guessing I will eventually lose my toenail. I guess I am wanting to know what others have done in a similar situation.

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  • mattiej
    mattiej Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2017

    Have Faith,

    I have not lost any nails as yet, but two fingernails are well on their way to being gone. I had TCHP for 6 treatments and have been done chemo for almost 7 wks. The neuropathy began after 3rd treatment and has not gotten any better (or worse) since the end of chemo. Some days I cannot feel the soles of my feet, which makes walking difficult. Some days are better than others and I only have no feeling in the toes. I don't have any weeping parts at this time, but my fingernails are discolored. My legs and feet swelled for about 3 wks post chemo.

    I have been told by the Onc Doc that it will "get better with time". I do use coconut oil on my hands and feet, which helps to moisturize the skin. Don't know if it is helping the nails. I'm more upset about loosing the fingernails than the hair!

    If your toes are weeping, maybe you should call your Onc Nurse, as there may be an infection brewing.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited July 2017

    Are either of you icing your nails? It made a tremendous different to my nails. I used frozen peas in zip lock bags - easier to move around then ice. I iced for 30 minutes before Taxotere, all during the infusion and 30 minutes after. I had to have two sets of peas that I changed out mid way.

    I never did totally lose my big toe nails, but they detached and i got a fungus infection. Now 3-1/2 years after final chemo, those two nails have still not completely re-attached and the 'nail' might as well be total horses hooves. I had some issues with vertical splitting of my finger nails. It took 2 years, but it has resolved.

    Also took Biotin and B-6 & B-12. Talk to your docs about that - the Biotin for the nails and the B for the neuropathy.

    Another thing to check out is Hand & Foot Syndrome. That's usually a side effect of adriamycin.

    Be sure to tell your docs about the neuropathy. It's often permanent. Some docs will reduce the chemo dose.

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  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 679
    edited July 2017

    Just finished same ACT as you 3 weeks ago, I've had 8 fingernails and one toe nail ooze and become about 3/4 of the way detached. They also smelled really bad. As if we don't have enough to deal with! They are starting to feel stronger again each day and are growing fast. I just made sure to keep them very short because I would get them caught on things and they would almost come off. Dr's also told me to soak them in warm epsom salt water every day. I actually got an infection under one of my pinky nails because as the nail bed was dying it didn't detach at the end of my finger so it was trapped. That was the worst pain I've had in a long time. Good luck, it gets better!

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited July 2017

    Once my nails lifted and I began having neuropathy my MO reduced my chemo dose by 20%, which helped with the neuropathy. My fingernails and two big toe nails still got infected, finally resolved by two rounds of antibiotics (difficult to treat during chemo). My big toe nails remained problematic and painful to the point that my blanket touching them hurt and I spent two months in flip flops. Eventually, I had to have the nails removed and I was not prepared for that torture, do what you can to avoid it.

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