Docetaxel SE

[MJCA]

Hi Gents

I have completed 6 rounds of Docetaxel. My results have been great! OSA prior to treatment, 23.6; after 5 rounds, 8.8.

I am dealing with the SE. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do for my fingernails? They are breaking very close to the base of the nail. All I can think of doing is putting band aids on my fingers. I wear gloves to wash dishes. I’m trying to be careful, but they are lifting off and breaking.

Thanks

[Muffin2019]

Mine are dry and white, I have no solution, I believe it is a side effect.

[Schwah]

you should be icing your hands and toes and sucking on ice during the treatments.

Schwah

[PGDuan in reply to Schwah]

MJCA - the theory behind icing your hands and feet and sucking on ice during the fusion is that it reduces the blood flow to your extremities — and hence the chemo. I did it all for my treatments and it seemed to help.

I don’t know of any scientific proof of this, but my doctors didn’t have an issue with it. I still had some minor fingernail issues, but not too bad. I was mainly trying to avoid neuropathy.

There are many kinds of ice packs /ice gloves/etc you can buy on Amazon. I used to bring them in a small cooler and put them on right as the infusions started.

Hope this helps.

[MJCA in reply to PGDuan]

Thanks. I am aware of the theory behind icing. My oncology dermatologist told me to do that; so I am doing that.

[Schwah in reply to PGDuan]

oh it works. I even used ice caps on my head and saved my hair.

Schwah

[dhccpa in reply to PGDuan]

How long is each infusion?

[MJCA in reply to dhccpa]

I’m there about 2.5 hours

[MiaAmia]

Use cuticle treatment (the kind in the cosmetics section of most drugstores and general retailers) and apply and work in either high moisturizing hand cream or olive oil before bed and wear cotton gloves. Doing this throughout chemo should help to prevent the problem but should still help after the fact. My understanding is that, like your hair, the nails will grow back.

Icing during chemo treatments is supposed to help.

[MJCA in reply to MiaAmia]

Thank you. I am wearing latex-free gloves for some manual dexterity. I have been applying oil to my cuticles/nails. Glad there’s Amazon Prime!

[EdBar]

not much you can do other than try and protect them and keep them trimmed so they don’t catch on anything. Mine grew back pretty quickly as did the hair on my head. The hair on my head actually grew back better. Eyebrows are still pretty thin and no hair on my legs or chest anymore.

Ed

[CAMPSOUPS]

Several of my toe nails came off about 7 months after last infusion in 2020.

r foot

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

double nail thickness for quite awhile

l foot