Posted by Penny on 11/8/2009, 1:23 am, in reply to "Toenails . . . "
70.187.42.222
Hey Jenni and all you gals having the sx with Taxol,
There are a few things you can do to help minimize the damage to your finger and toenails while on Taxol.
1. Keep your nails cut SHORT. This keeps you from hitting the tips or prying them back which is what causes the bruising and lifting.
2. Don't use your nails as a pry bar or drums. Use the side of your finger or the end of a spoon to open a soda and avoid tapping or drumming the tips of your nails (a nervous habit I had).
3. Whenever possible, wear open toed shoes or no shoes at all (I know winter's coming) but closed toed, especially pointy toes or tight fitting shoes will bruise your toenails and cause lifting.
4. Do NOT get or wear acrylic nails, any kind of false nails or even fingernail polish (other than clear). Acrylics can cause fungus to develop under nails and polish just hides the damage so you can't keep a watch on them.
5. Go to either GNC or your local health food store and buy gellatin capsules to strengthen your nails. Ask your onc first of course, but he/she shouldn't mind. You can get the same results from eating lots of jello.
6. Get some tea tree oil at the same health food store and apply as directed. This keeps the nails moisturized and makes them less brittle.
Unfortunately for some, nothing works completely and once they are bruised there isn't much you can do but minimize further damage. The good news is, just like hair, it's only temporary and once you're done with Taxol the nails will start to grow again and once they're grown completely out, they will come in healthy again. Just be sure to be very gentle with those nailbeds cause if you damage them, you may have some permanent damage to your nails.
I'm sorry, I should have warned you gals about this sx but I had forgotten about it till Jenni brought it up. I had to deal with this issue for almost a year while on Taxotere (sister drug to Taxol) but my nails are back normal now and yours will be too. Probably before your hair comes back.
Hope this helps you gals out some.
Hugs,
Penny
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