Welcome to the forum spinningrose although I'm sorry for the reason you are posting.

We have some general information about looking after skin and nails on our website just here but do feel free to give our cancer nurses a call next week as they may be able to give you some pointers about this as well. Their lines are open Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m on 0808 800 4040.

I'm going to put you in touch with the lovely [@TwinTwo]‍ as she is on docetaxel at the moment and having issues with her nails. Now I've mentioned her in this post I'm sure she'll stop by to chat when she can. 

I think there have been quite a few discussions on the forum about this issue so do have a look for them using our 'search forum' option in the blue bar above.

I hope this helps spinningrose and you're able to prevent your nails from lifting off.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi there SpinningRose (love the user name), and thanks [@Moderator Steph]‍ for tagging me.

I'm out at the moment but will be home soon and read your post properly.  Great to talk to someone else on the Docataxel trail, I'm not finding it easy.

LJx

Thank you x

[[]]Example of issue in question

Hi Spinningrose,

Yikes, your experience of Docataxel sounds awful.

I spoke to a pharmacist friend before starting chemo as my nails have never been very good (I used to bite my nails due to anxiety).  She recommended starting to use Nailtiques Formula 2 as early on in treatment as possible so I've been using that from the outset.  I've also been doing the obvious healthy diet stuff (until the last few days where I've been unable to eat).

In terms of starting the Docataxel the hospital gave me a dark nail polish and said to have it on my nails throughout the treatment.  Oddly my mum wasn't told this when she was going through her FEC-T.  But apparently you want to stop UV getting to the nail bed and the best way to do that is gloves or a dark polish.  So I guess my recommendation would be to do that as a matter of urgency to prevent any further lifting at least.

Not sure what state the bed of your nails is in but if there is still some tissue attaching might it be worth putting plasters around all your fingers to at least hold the nail tight against the bed to help it continue to attach as it grows?  Sorry, clutching at straws but might be worth a go.  Even if it means living in plastic gloves for a while.

My mum's nails did get pretty bad with her FEC-T.  Not sure what age you are but my mum did think it was probably tougher on her because her nails were naturally getting more brittle with age.  That said hers look fine to me.  She does keep them short as she finds they break easier than prior to the treatment but they don't look brittle or damaged to the eye.  I've only had cycle one so I'll let you know how mine go as I go through the rest of it.  I'm not girly enough for all this nail stuff, I don't know how people do it, I have mine on for a few hours and already large bits are chipped or smeared off and whole bits of nailbed are being exposed to UV, so probably going to still have to wear gloves most of the time and have the nail varnish on as the backup.

Do you have a good nail specialist in your area?  I guess by now a number of them must have specialist knowledge to help chemotherapy patients, there are enough of us around after all.

It's not something I've looked at with chemo but when I managed to grow my nails previously I did massage the nail beds with something (can't remember what though, think it was a type of oil) so the almond oil will hopefully do some good for you.

Let me know if any of that helps.

LJx

Hi LJ thanks for your message.

oddly during FEC my nails kept growing really long really quickly and I had to keep cutting them back! Before starting Docetaxel I cut my nails right back painted my nails with dark nail varnish which I kept in for 4/5 weeks after the Docetaxel because, as you say the UV affects the nail. My toes didn't get any exposure to UV but I still lost a few toenails eeeeuuuu. They seem to have recovered fine though. 

Am piling on almond oil and urea cream and wear plasters or surgical tape when I need to be more careful but try to keep them aired as well as moisture causing them to lift more. 

All such an undignified process! Not feeling very lady like feminine or glam these days!!! 

I am so glad I didn't have the full 3 cycles of Docetaxel, I dread to think what state one would be in given the damage only 1 cycle did I feel terrible for everyone having to endure it!

Good luck with your fight, may you be victorious!! xx

oh, and to answer your question, I am a juvenile 53 year old X

It certainly isn't proving to be fun!

But only two cycles to go.  Well my blood pressure is up and I have chest pain so I guess there's a chance something will show up to change it but now I know what to expect I kind of hope it just stays as planned.

You're clearly much further on in knowledge of the nail care than I am :D  I like the surgical tape idea, hadn't thought of that.

Mine did still grow fast on the FEC and seem to be still on the T but hopefully it will slow down.  I have filed them as I worry if I cut them bits will just break away somehow.

I'm sporting sparkling black just now, quite liking it :-)

It's weird seeing your photo.  One of my toenails and one of my fingernails went like that months ago, before I even knew I had cancer.  Both are coming back in normally, I just left them, covered with a plaster if I was worried about them tearing off, and was as kind to the cuticles as I could be.  Hopefully yours will do the same.

Love your headscarf and makeup by the way, I haven't quite grasped that side of things yet either, my head scarf wearing has provided some moments of light relief for sure :-D

Going to head to bed shortly, but just wondering what your new treatment plan is, what replaces the T?

Good night, thanks for the chat.

LJx

How curious that your nails went awry before you were diagnosed! 

head gear is a turban! From a website called Suburbanturban. They do a wide range of fabby head gear. I wrestled with scarves but failed miserably. I got a wig, hated it. Looked fabby, but itched and bits of 'hair' poked my eyes and nose and it all got a tad stressful. In the end I embraced the bald and just wore something on my head when walking to and from work.

that photo I took after I had been to a MacMillan look good feel better makeup session, I can thoroughly recommend doing it if there is opportunity to do so where you are. I would note though I've not worn makeup since that day ha ha. I just couldn't be bothered and once I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes there seemed even less point. 

Re remaining treatment, I am currently having radiotherapy - 13 sessions down, 7 to go. I am having herceptin infusion every 3 weeks until July next year, and on tamoxifen for 5 to 10 years. The oncologist felt more docetacel too risky after how it affected me and that last 2 cycles not necessary given I'd had 3 cycles of FEC and 1 of Docetaxel and that i was having all the other treatment as well. I was relieved after she said no more chemo, joyous even. i was ok after it until i started the filgrastim immune boosting injections, thats when things went horribly awry

i hope you get through your remaining treatments without too much discomfort and anguish! Enjoy your fancy sparkly black varnish!

nice to talk to you, sleep well xx

Hi spinningrose and twintwo! 

5 months on from your posts and that stage of your treatments I hope you are both well, you seem amazingly strong women  

I am new to this site and just been looking for advice on docetaxel / nails, found your conversation stream very helpful and wondered if you had any extra tips

After diagnosis with breast cancer I have had three rounds of EC followed by three rounds of Docetaxel.  That was all last summer and with many weeks of dark nail polish I though I had escaped nail issues but just before Christmas I started getting problems with my finger nails: oozing nailbed (yuck!) followed by dry and lifting nails.  With the added fun of an infection under one fingernail which took three weeks of antibiotics to clear. 

I have used lots of Vaseline and am about to start on almond oil thanks to your tips.  

Have also been using plasters to stop them catching ... but does that make them soggy /  worse?! How does surgical tape work ... I tried but ended up looking like an Egyptian mummy

I’m also soaking my hands in hot salt water twice a day to keep the nail bed clean (up to the elbow actually - to help circulation)

Any extra tips much appreciated 

A

Hi Alison,

so sorry you are having to go through all of this, tis quite the challenge isn't it!

The best thing I found for my nails when they were all split and bits were sticking up was to gently file down any sticky up bits and I would wrap them with surgical tape rather than bandaids as it didn't make them as damp and manky as bandaids did. 

I luckily didn't get any infection and after about 7 months the worst affected bits grew out. One thumb cuticle has lifted away from the nail and I have to be careful, and nails do crumble when they grow but are vastly improved. I still have pain in my fingers and toes around the nail areas which is frustrating.

i would keep doing what you're doing, make sure you dry them well after the salt water soaks and only cover them when you have to do stuff, and air as much as possible.

surgical tape all over the ends of your fingers isn't exactly glamorous but it worked for me!!

Unfortunately as with all these side effects, it takes time for them to get better which isn't easy. 

I do hope things ease for you, well done getting through 3 cycles of the dreaded Docetaxel. One nearly finished me off, thank god they didn't give  me anymore ha ha. It's brural stuff!!!  You're a trooper for getting this far. It might not feel like it right now but things do get easier, albeit slowly!!!!

wishing you all good things for your treatment and  recovery journey.

xxx