Toenail-geddon? Looking for info and ideas.

ShetlandPony
ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
edited November 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I just let my dh superglue my big toenail. It was already 1/3 lifted (as is the other big toenail) when I stubbed it badly a few months ago. That made it bruise and start to split along the lift line. The line is the border between normal and lifted nail. There is a white section, that instead of being straight across the end of the nail in the normal way, cuts diagonally from the tip of inner toe to the middle of outer toe, creating a white triangle. This corresponds to the red hand foot syndrome area on my feet, caused by Xeloda. I'm sure Xeloda must impede healing. Today I stubbed the toe again, and the split lengthened, threatening that the nail would come completely off, leaving me with half a nail. Waaaaa! I do three hobbies that require bare feet and I really don't want weird nails. It's the little things that can finally bring me to tears.

I'm interested in knowing what others have learned about toenails and chemo. Xeloda is working so well that I can't make a change for the sake of nails. History: There was a little lifting of the big toenails from taxol, and it has worsened on Xeloda. The big toenails are the worst, but some others show some lifting as well. I do not think there is fungus involved. I have been keeping my toenails painted much of the time to hide the lifting but at the moment they are not painted. I avoid sun exposure by not wearing sandals very much. Fingernails are ok.

Can a podiatrist or dermatologist do anything for me? I do not want nails removed! I don't want it to look weird. Is superglue compatible with nail polish and nail polish remover? Could my nightly cold water foot rinsing, which I do to try and combat hand foot syndrome, be hurting me by diminishing circulation? I feel like if I understood how toenails grow I could be smarter about what to do for them. I realize that lifted nails are a risk for infection. I dry my toes with a blow dryer after my shower. Is there anything else I should do? Maybe prophylactic tea tree oil? If it comes off, can I have a fake nail put on even though Xeloda affects the cuticles (they are a bit hard and sharp).

I almost put this thread in the all stages topics, but I was afraid of hearing, “It will get better when you are done with chemo". Because there is no done for me. But any early stage readers, if you know something helpful, please message me.

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Comments

  • BellaTassie15
    BellaTassie15 Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2018

    ShetlandPony, I lost both big toenails and one small on taxol 3 years ago. I've had nothing but trouble with both big toenails since! Sorry ☹️ They grew back ingrown and I had repeated redness and pockets of pus on both sides of each. Eventually I agreed to have both sides of each cut away, a minor surgery at the Podiatrist's. Recently one was causing redness and pus again so it was redone. It looks stupid, a funny shape down the side. Last week my other toe started and I thought he would redo it, but he said it had lifted and was pushing in, causing the infection. So he cut it off diagonally along the discoloured area, sounds much like urs! He expects it will fall off again, ho hum 😟

    I understand what u mean by weird toenails, it is embarrassing, I wear a bandaid over them to hide them when necessary, which isn't quite as bad, but definitely not attractive! The small toenail grew back stupid, sticks out a bit, but at least it doesn't get infected and sore! I paint them to hide the discolouration, which is definitely not fungal. I live in a very wide pair of joggers, if I wear anything slightly tight I get problems again. I think my feet slipping forward slightly when active at the gym damages them, I need to put cotton wool or something at the tips to cushion them I think. I guess I just have to accept that they r just more fragile now.

    I think it would be good if u saw a Podiatrist for assessment and advice, they r experts in this. Good luck with it!

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  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited July 2018

    Shetland,

    I have a similar issue. Half a toenail on my right side and mine is infected. It's really embarrassing. I'm thinking maybe an appointment with a podiatrist is due for me, but I'm going to try tea tree oil and antibiotic ointment first.

    If your toenail is just lifting and not all the way off, you should be able to find a nail salon to make a fake toenail for you? My mom has had this done in the past. She was not on chemo but for some other reason was having issues with her toenails.

    Hope you get it figured it out.

    R

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  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Member Posts: 2,687
    edited July 2018

    Great topic SP. I understand your issue. Mine have lifted too. Can you take that skin hair and nails vitamin supplement?

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  • Laurie09
    Laurie09 Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2018

    Ugh, mine aren't nearly this bad, but I'm having troubles too, mostly with receding of the cuticle. I've been wondering if I will lose toenails...

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited November 2018

    Update: After weeks of repeated superglue the front half of the toe nail finally came almost all the way off, hanging by a thread as it were. So I had to cut it free. Lo and behold, a nail was there! It must have been growing underneath. So now that big toe looks almost like it did before and it even seems to be growing longer. A bit tender sometimes, still.

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