Nail damage

[Eleni]

Anyone have any ideas about how to protect your nails from chemo damage please? any 'magic' products that anyone knows of?!!

[lesleysage]

Hello Eleni,

Despite experiencing nail damage during dose-dense Carbo + Taxol + Avastin I never found anything to help .. but my nails did recover after chemo finished. However, I think they are now (over 2years after last chemo) more brittle and 'ridge-y' than pre-chemo days. I did massage my cuticles daily with a moisturiser cream for nails so that at least I felt I was trying do look after them! I decided not to, but it maybe worth checking if the adhesive for false nails can do any harm/aggravate your skin, at least when chemo is over you can treat yourself if you wish.

Hope the day is good, even if the nails aren't!

L x

[LadyBlueTC in reply to lesleysage]

I had acrylic nails and they ruin your nails. Biotin 5000mg really helped my nails after chemo. Hair and skin as well

[Eleni in reply to lesleysage]

Thanks Lesley....

I asked Ovacome and they apparently contacted a pharmacist within a cancer hospital who recommended a product on this link....

mosaiclife.co.uk/portfolio-...

I've asked my consultant what he thinks but am going to get some of that and have also got pink vaseline as everyone suggests.

Bless you

Hx

[Eleni in reply to Eleni]

mosaiclife.co.uk/portfolio-...

this is the complete link.not sure it came out that well above?!

x

[Hidden]

Yes suffered nail damage with Gem/Avastin and then while on Avastin. Improving now slightly. I use Sally Jensen nail strengthner a few times weekly and massage nail oil in. As for hand creams, I think the most effective one is the Pink Vaseline hand cream in a tube. I used Aveeno which was hopeless, tried all different ones even one in Dealz. Since I have finished Avastin, I am using Boots own skin hair and nails. I suppose it takes a while for the nails to recover.

[Eleni in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Suzuki.......really helpful. Best wishes

xx

[angeladale in reply to Eleni]

Rimmel do good "Nail Nurse "...use it religiously , and Pink Vaseline too . Always use rubber gloves and keep nails dry .

I haven ' t been on Avastin but on nearly everything else ! Nails have been my obsession when everything else had fallen off !!! Good luck with yours x

[Eleni in reply to angeladale]

Thanks for the tips Angela,,,,,,,,,,xx

[January-2016-UK in reply to Hidden]

Should I massage in the pink Vaseline into my toes as well. This is the first I realised that toe nails could be affected too. Only knew about hands.

[Eleni in reply to January-2016-UK]

I haven't used this before January 2016, but I'm definitely going to massage it into my toes too! x

[Boot1947]

I was told that dark nail varnish was a good protection, not sure why. Actually, my fingernails stayed quite strong, but my toenails were rubbish, turning black and falling off. 15 months from the end of chemo my fingernails are back to normal, but my toenails are really thick and hard to cut (that might just be age, though!). I went to a chiropodist four months after chemo finished and she got rid of the worst damage.

[Eleni in reply to Boot1947]

It's the black and falling off which worries me. the steroids alone do damage though I believe.

Thanks for the support Boot

xx

[LadyBlueTC]

Had taxol/carbo every week for 6 months. My hairdresser shaved my head when I started loosing my hair. Bought a wig which worked well. So easy, no fussing with hair. I started taking Biotin, it is for hair, nails and skin. Very inexpensive. It's 5000 mg and it has worked for me. My 2 daughters take it as well. It is good for everyone not just people who have an illness

[Eleni]

Thanks for that

Lady Blue.....really useful.

x

[Hidden]

I had no problems with my toe nails to be honest they grew away no problem maybe a little discoloured but that could also be age. On Saturday, I picked up a jar of Coconut Oil and I am using this now on my hands and nails since then. Definitely it softens the skin.

[Eleni]

So pleased to hear that Suzuki. Did you have pacliataxol? That seems to be the one which causes damage. I start having that monday.....

x

[Juejue]

Hi eleni , my oncologist advised vitamin e oil massaged into nails and cuticles hands and feet every day , I did it and never lost one nail all the other ladies on the carbo taxol did so I would recommend . Hope it works for you . Jue

[Eleni]

Thank you Jue.....sounds a real plan! Bless you

xx

[JPTjpt123]

I found just keeping nail polish on this really helps and also creaming them morning and night. regards. Maria

[Eleni in reply to JPTjpt123]

Thanks Maria

I thought I couldn't wear nail polish with Taxol but I have my pre chemo meeting this Friday so will ask.

Hx

[LadyBlueTC]

I have been taking Biotin. 5000mg. It is for hair, nails and skin. I know many people who are taking it. It has really helped me. My nails are better than they have ever been. Before starting chemo, my hairdresser shaved my head. Now my hair went from straight and thin to thicker and shinny.

[Eleni in reply to LadyBlueTC]

Thanks LadyBlue

Many people are telling me about Biotin so think I'll definitely get some.

xx