Evonail

[Kryssy]

Has anyone tried Evonail to stop their nails turning brown? I've been recommended it by the cancer nurse but it's not covered by prescription here, even though it's made in France. The nurse reckons that it will stop my nails turning brown and keep them strong. If it does then it's worth the cost.

[Cropcrop]

Here they recommended using dark nail varnish to stop the sun causing a reaction with the chemo, my toe nails are testament that this doesn't necessarily work.

You can get Evonail on Amazon here for £18.50, I don't know how that compares to the cost in France? Maybe worth a look? Do let us know ❤️Xx Jane

[Kryssy in reply to Cropcrop]

Hi Jane. I have taken the plunge and ordered some over here, with the special cleaner, for 30€ delivered on Monday. That's about £27. I'm not a nail varnish person as my nails are very soft and break easily and I'm always gardening but a good friend does nails as it was her job in UK and as a treat will do me every week for free. Can't get better than that then. Wish I had a friend who makes wigs.... xx

[ZenaJ]

I didn't know it could turn your nails brown. The back of my hands went brown and leathery but they're back to normal now. Good luck with the vanish and fantastic to have a friend like that. xx

[Yoshbosh]

I didn't have any problems at all with my nails during chemo! I didn't even know nails could be at risk.

[Hidden in reply to Yoshbosh]

I've not come across "brown" either, but I would say it has an impact on nails. More grainy and fragile. And when it's over you can see where the chemo period started. What a great offer of weekly manicures.....

[Yoshbosh in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes, I do remember 'chemo ridges' come to think of it.

[Sherrym]

Mine did not change or weaken anyhow, but I did read that normal polish helps?

[85live4ever]

Hi Kryssy, will keep this in mind. I have been using dark nail varnish it's hard to know if it works or not because I have always had poor nails.

It does sound very dear for nail varnish but if it stops the problem then it's worth it.

My friend lost all her finger nails & toes nails on chemo. She bought nail vanishes & did everything to keep them but sadly she didn't. Her nails have never recovered thank God she has recovered from cancer & doing well so far. Pitty she didn't know about this. Thanks for posting. Take care Cindyxx

[Kryssy]

Hi Cindy,

Yes, it is expensive when we are just pensioners but is does protect against UV rays apparently even though it's clear so I don't have to cover them up with gloves etc. Also, the cleaner doesn't contain acetone. I did smart when I read about your friend losing all her nails. I bet that was awful. I break nails a lot and it hurts like hell. What must your friend have gone through?

I've read through my chemo guide book which the cancer nurse gave me and I've also got to clean my teeth three times a day with a soft brush and rinse with non-alcohol mouthwash and this should protect me against mouth problems. I'll do whatever it takes to be honest. The hardest thing at the moment is staying germ free. Some of my friends are just getting over the flu and it's hard knowing who will get it next and staying away from them. Hubby's not well now so he's moved into the spare room and no kisses and cuddles. That's hard. I feel like a leper.

I read about your leak. That's dreadful. Why doesn't the UK fit ports as standard? It would save so many having collapsed veins etc. OK, so I look as if I have a small alien under the my skin but no-one will see it and I feel safer now I've read such horror stories from non-port girls. If we haven't got enough trying to finish us off......

Kryssy xx

[Hidden in reply to Kryssy]

I certainly hope you don't have cause to end up in A & E or in a different service.

If you do, I'll be very interested to hear whether they use your port or not.

This is one of my beefs here. I have mine because my veins have packed up. In my experience, no-one except the cancer end of things use these routinely. Makes emergency admissions even more stressful.

So, I have ended up thinking they've rather been oversold, as the solution to all our problems, when in fact they only are in one area.

With the stats about numbers expected to have cancer rising, I had an interesting discussion with an anaesthetist about what a training deficiency this seemed....The point he made was that unless you're using them a lot, you forget the training. So, a bit of a vicious circle!

[Kryssy in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mac27. The nurse is coming tomorrow to give me an injection for something or other (it's on the prescription) so I'll ask if he will use the port. It did get used yesterday in Xray before the chemo started but I think they were just checking that it was working as it was my first time. I think that in France the ports are the norm so all the hospitals use them if you have one. Everyone in the chemo ward had them fitted. I was given some patches too which I put on in the morning of chemo and it's a local anesthetic to numb the area but to be honest, I didn't feel a thing, even though it's still a bit sore from the op last week to put it in. Take care. Kryssy xx

[January-2016-UK]

Hello Kryssy, I ordered this a couple of weeks ago as although expensive I thought I'd try it as it was recommended by your cancer nurse and the French are so good at looking good if that makes sense. The instructions say to paint on twice a day which I've been doing. I also ordered the remover but I'm not clear if I should use it each time before painting, which might be a bit more of a chore. I removed it at the end of the week. Did your cancer nurse tell you?

Hope things are well with you!

Helen

[Kryssy in reply to January-2016-UK]

Hi Helen.

Been using Evonail now all the time on hands and feet. Thought it was once a week doh. Hubby did it for me when I was paralyzed with neuropathy and still does it still, even though I'm able now. Must be his guilty pleasure. Clean off once a week with remover. Easy peasy. Still using original bottle after two months plus and my nails are the best they have ever been. Strong, long and no discoloration. I've gone mad this week and put some regular bright red varnish on as could never show off my soft and brittle nails before. Won't have it on more than 3 or 4 days though then back to Evonail.

Hubby just slaps it on and gets it on the surrounding skin a bit but it's colourless and washes off. He puts it under the tips too, so really goes for it. Well worth the money as nurse said my nails would go brown and probably drop off without it. It's advertised in the cancer clinic so I guess they rate it here. Enjoy.

Love Kryssy xxx

[January-2016-UK in reply to Kryssy]

Thanks a lot for info. My nails have always been quite good and the first time round I didn’t use anything and I think they grew faster than usual. I’ve heard a lot lately about them either going brown or falling out which sounds so so painful so when I saw your post I jumped into online ordering mode.

My instructions say to paint it over the surrounding skin so he’s doing the right thing even if he didn’t realise but the instructions do say not to put it under the tips but without saying why.

Bright red varnish sounds just the thing! Matching red lipstick?

Take care.

[Kryssy in reply to January-2016-UK]

Ooooo! I'll tell him that but at least he's been doing something right. He can be as clumsy as he wants with it as I just lay there and be pampered. He's stricter than I am about doing it and every bedtime it's the same - "Let's do your nails". I can think of better things to hear at bedtime but hey ho.

Kryssy xxx