This isn’t how I pictured neuropathy feeling, that would be numbness or pins and needles, correct?
Yesterday I noticed pressing on my fingernail caused a bruising feeling. Today some of the fingernail beds just ache a little, and feel bruised when touched.
It’s obviously from chemo, is there a name for this? Does it indicate my nails may be falling off eventually?
Any suggestions for care? (I’ll definitely be using ice gloves during Rounds 3…)
I don't know about the aching feeling of the fingernail beds. Is it happening with the same fingernails you pressed on yesterday?
We hear this a lot and the longer I have been on the forum it rings true: We can as individuals react differently to treatments.
I had 6 infusions of Docetaxel 3 years ago. I had 6 ridges on each fingernail representing each infusion. My fingernails never came off. They did try to regrow so about 5 months after chemo I had a double nail effect. My fingertips became very sensitive to heat and cold during chemo. Very sensitive. That corrected itself a few months after chemo and I had negligible numbness in my finger tips. My toenails became discolored and all but 3 or so fell off. This occured about 6 months after my last chemo infusion. The distal end of the bottom of my feet and my toes became numb and have stayed numb. I did not use ice during chemo 3 years ago.
Fast forward to a few months ago I had chemo again ( 3 infusions then stopped because not working ). On these 3 infusions I used ice. I developed a little more numbness in my feet and toes and my fingers seem to have numbness right at the tip along with severe heat and cold sensitivity.
I did not use ice on my skull ( I have skull mets ) either time and this time when I had chemo my hair fell out after only the 1st infusion. It took until the 4th infusion 3 years ago. This is because of the follicle damage 3 years ago. Probably explains the numbness despite ice this time around also. And all the other increased side effects I had this time.
I asked the nurse this time around about ice and it was convienent ( I didnt have to bring an ice chest, booties, gloves, etc. ) she put ice in two bags. I removed my feet, hands, periodically for a minute or so when they got too cold. I sucked on ice chips too this time unlike 3 years ago. Had worse eating/appetite this time compared to 3 years ago.
About a year ago I took an elderly friend to a podiatrist. It was summer so I was in sandals. He glanced at my feet and said "looks like you've had some serious issues in your life recently."
I said "those wavy ridges? I think I got one for each session of chemo."
"Exactly" he responded and followed with an education about how the nail generation cells in the nail bed are very responsive to all sorts of stresses in our bodies and lives. Definitely chemo, but also grief and similar emotional and anxiety events.
See a podiatrist if you are worried, but since it takes toenails about a year to grow out you should be fine about a year after your last chemo.
BTW, my chemo was for NH Lymphoma not PCa; but that's not important. Every chemo is different and every body reacts as it chooses to the treatment you get; so YMMV.
My toes went numb, then end each cycle got a little less numb
The most numbest of the toes(middle index toe?) Ended up having little black marks,
They gre out, each of the roughest infusions did the same.
Strap in,
Keep drinking water
Keep making it through til you through the next one.
The treatment is to kill the cancer(and you)
The worse it feels, the more cancer it kills!!!
Stay alive.
Head strong
Heart strong
And try keep body strong....
Worst thing for me is the zombie ING
And the taste thing.
I just finished number 6
You got this
I had chemo in 2015 and and along with hair loss and all the other nasty side effects from chemo my finger nails became loose and brittle but never fell off. Post chemo as they began growing again they have small ridges in them, they’re still that way today. During and right after chemo I made sure to keep them well trimmed so that they wouldn’t snag on anything and get pulled off, ah the joys of chemo. Hang in there brother and embrace the suck.
Ed
I used Mane and Tail on my husband's toenails. Helped some with chipping, sensitivity and the ridges. But mostly it seems you just have to get through chemo.
My damn podiatrist has a foot fetish....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Monday 02/13/2023 3:57 PM EST
Hi,
I recently completed my third round of chemo (Docetaxel). With the advice from others on this forum (Campsoups), I iced my hands and feet during the infusions and sucked on ice cubes. So far I have no neuropathy or changes to my nails, however, this may change as treatments progress. I do not use socks or gloves on my hands and use Healthy Hands gloves and SuzziPad booties (from Amazon) with ice packs. I bought 2 sets of each and switch them out half way between the treatment (about 75 minutes). I start using the ice 15 minutes before the infusion starts and 15 minutes after it ends. My hands and feet are freezing and uncomfortable, but I endure the pain to prevent problems. I hope this helps.
I was similar after 2 rounds and then started using ice packs. Last round was on 6/10/22 and my nails have nearly recovered but still feeling slightly like they were hit by a hammer.
1st round of chemo
Low ANC levels after third round chemo
Update 2: Chemo (docetaxel) + hormonotherapy
Radiation Cystitis round 2 
Round 2 of Pluvicto Complete
