Morning to you all, I’m au natural short nails girl but Avastin has wrecked them and they seem to spit very easily causing a lot of pain.
I wondered if having acrylics (short) over the top would help strengthen and protect them. Do any of you have this done? Any experience would be greatly appreciated.
Wishing you all the best, Lisa xoxo
Hi Lisa
I had tips acrylics when on Avastin trial. Doesn't strengthen them but might protect them. I have acrylic overlays at the moment. Might be best just to check in with you CNS first though, although mine never said not to, used to compliment me on them lol xx Hope yr doing ok xx
Thank you. That sounds like a goer, I don’t have a specialist nurse but could ask my oncologist I suppose. He usually just tells me to go for it; as in how bad can it be, you have incurable cancer! 😂
I like his style! Worst case is you have them soaked off again? xx
I used to have my nail gel, and it did protect it. I'm did not use acrilic as it worst for your nails. When I had mine done with acrilic before diagnosis it made my nails thinner and brittle. So I never used them again, but that's only my experienced. I think it's better to ask your CNS. Good luck. Xx
Thanks for that, don’t want to make them any worse so will look into it carefully. X
Hello there I am about to start my 3rd cycle of taxol/carbo. I lost my hair between 1st and 2nd cycle. On one of my sleepless nights due to steroids I caught the end of a programme on Radio 4 about a Oncologist I think at St James. He made a balm of shea butter, lavender essential oil and olive oil for his patients to massage into nails. I was a bit sceptical at 1st but bought the ingredients and made some up (how to melt shea butter on youtube) I must say my natural nails have never been so good and strong and, as a result have made up some pots up for friends and family who have said the same thing . On another subject I am new to this forum and thanks to all you lovely ladies who contribute with such helpful, supportive and uplifting posts thank you x
Welcome to our lovely and really friendly gang, as you obviously realise we all support each other and there’s always somebody here who will have the answers to somebody’s question. Thank you for the fabulous tip for the nails, mine have never been truly right since I finished chemo so I’m going to look up the ingredients as soon as I possibly can. I hope your third line treatment goes well and you get the results you need and that the treatment isn’t too hard for you. Take care lovely ❤️Xx Jane
Thank you Jane for the lovely warm welcome. Fortunately I haven't had too of a bad time and hoping that the pattern will be the same, although understand it could be cumulative. Day 3,4,5 have been the worst with severe muscle and joint pain and swollen throat and will talk to doc about that tomorrow, see if I can take piriton on those days. Strangely enough the only allergy I have is uncooked pine nuts like in pesto which seems very like the reaction to taxol on those days ? Thank you once again for your lovely welcome XX
Hi Lisa, hope all ok after your hol?
I’ve just had my nails done for the first time in a nail bar!
Since Avastin, like you, they’ve split a lot. Also it’s a real ‘treat’ for me, as when I was a nurse/midwife, we had to have short nails with no colour.
So...I asked about the options. Apparently gel is preferable to acrylic. Then I chose white tips, which can be cut/filed to the length you like. Then gel in-filling (very technical!). Then a pretty very pale pink colour was put on top.
They look lovely & are a real treat! Cost £35. You can keep topping them up every 3-4 weeks, or have them taken off (with a special tool).
A friend told me that you have to have them off if you have to have chemo/surgery, as the “pulse oximeter” (for measuring oxygen levels) won’t work through the gel (or gelac nail varnish).
I’ve learnt a lot about nails lately 😂
I don’t think it strengthens them, but it does give a layer of protection.
Linda 🌸🌸
Hi Linda,
All good thanks, back to work today, no rest for the wicked!
You certainly are the nail expert, i’m Thinking the pampering would be nice too!
I’ll look into the type you have.
Lisa xoxo
Hi
I had gel when on Avastin as my nails would split lengthways and I could do nothing with them. I’ve now found something called SNS ( will try and put link below ) They last for at least 4 weeks before needing infills . Have just had them done teal in prep for awareness month.
Have already had 3 people comment on how good they look and it’s a great opener to talk about OC as I tell them why they are teal and then go on to talk about my diagnosis if they are keen to talk. Had the classic on the tube of a women in her 30s asking ‘ did they pick up your diagnosis from your smear test !’ I soon put her right ! And those around us that were listening !
Great to know my nails have educated at least one person this week !
As others have said do check with your team first to make sure they are happy.
Love and best wishes Kimx
Thanks Kim, that’s great! Brilliant way to educate I may do the same. I’ll see if I can find someone who does this.
Best wishes, Lisa xxx
Hi Kim,
Just had a look - do you buy it on-line, then take it to your Nail Bar?
No. They just have a poster for it in the nail bar and offer it as an option along with acrylic and gel.
Oh that’s interesting Kim, thanks.
Hadn’t read your good news when I asked this - I am thrilled for you Kim! When do do count your NED from? The end of FLT? Two years is great & hope that will be multiplied many many times! 🎈🥂🎈
Thanks . I’m 2 years since ending my first line chemo , a year since ending my Avastin but my oncologist today was saying I’d done well to reach 2 years post chemo so am going with that x
I have started having acrylic overlays. In the past when I had acrylics yes when they were taken off my nails very thin and weak....this is due to top layer being filed too much. Yes the surface does need roughing but should be done manually too.
Overlays make my nails feel a lot stronger and gives them time to grow.
Thanks Sara, your reply is much appreciated. My nails can’t get much worse! ❤️
Hi Lisa .I am nail tec ,don’t do acrylic or no chip manicure.Your nails can damaged more.CND RescueRx Daily Keratin Treatment .Try this it’s good.Hope helps.Emma.
Thank you Emma, much appreciated. I will do. Xoxo
If you can avoid acrylics it would be better for your nails as they can cause more damage. There is a fantastic product called Revitanail Nail Strengthener that will do the job for you. Good luck🌹
Thank you xoxo
Hello Lias . As vanity took precedence over my incision advice (!) I continued with my acrylic nails and an very glad I did! It’s lovely having something frivolous amongst all the v serious stuff . On Taxol yes ; and days 3/4/5 lots of side effects but all bearable really . Insomnia . Aches, dry mouth wee ukcers, dizziness fatigue etc but nothing compared to the FEC previously !! I use rosehip oil creams on face hands body etc and as it’s pure and comes from NZ where I’m from I prefer it . Cheaper st TK Maxx!! V expensive at Amazon . ! I use the cold cap so have lost half of my hair but don’t yet use my wig .
Best wishes ! I reckon if it ( anything on chemo ) makes you feel good “ do it “ but that’s a choice!!
Denisex
Denise, I agree! Hope your treatment goes well, thanks for connecting. Xoxo
I have not been on Avastin but my nails started splitting while on my clinical trial. I bought some ordinary cuticle oil from the chemist and, to my astonishment, it cleared it up completely. Later the splitting started again and the oil fixed it again so am convinced.
I am a guitarist and had trouble keeping my nails strong when I was a teenager. I went to the chemist to get some nail strengthener- I think it was calked Strong Nail- but the chemist advised against it as she said it had acid in it which could make them more brittle. So worth asking some questions before buying. I would be reluctant to use anything that sticks or glues. Maybe ask a manicurist or beautician?
That makes sense as i’ve Been using it and it has not helped! 😂😂😂
Justgot this advice from a beautician friend: Cuticle oils are great if the nails split due to being dry oil manicures are great (just soaking nails in a small bowl of warm oil normally sweet almond oil)
Best nail strenghtener in my opinion would be nailtiques they do different formulas for different nail conditions
Thank you i’ll Try that tonight. Xoxo
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