Chemo side effects

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Hi I’m Jose and I would like to know if anyone else has got painful fingernails and do they sometimes smell?
Mine are now coming away from the nail bed and look terrible . My chemo was docetaxol ,carboplatin ,and I also am having herceptin .
Would love to hear from someone this is my first post .

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Dear Jose

Welcome to the BCC Forum.  I’m sorry no one has responded to your question yet. 

This might be something the helpline could help with.  They are open from 9-5 on weekdays and 10-2 on Saturdays.  The number is 0808 800 6000

Very best wishes

Janet

BCC Moderator

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Hi Jose, sorry you’ve not had any replies the forum moves quite quickly and posts get lost sometimes. I had Tax (docetaxol) chemo and my finger and toe nails looked horrible and eventually fell off, can’t remember if they smelt though, it was over 5 years ago. It’s one of the side effects from Tax. Hope others see your post now and will reply.

All the best and hope your on the road to recovery now xx

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Hi Jose

I had chemo last year and yes lost some of my toe nails and my fingernails were horrid splitting half way down. All back now thank goodness fingernails better than toe nails. I had lots of jelly babies they helped :slight_smile: and used nail strengthener polish good luck xx

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Hi Jose, sorry to hear you are having some pain. Whilst on Docataxel my nails hurt - I realise now this may have been because the skin under the nails was getting thick (it migh have been pushing the nail up thus causing pain) - as the nail is growing I can see the difference between the ‘old’ part of the nail, which is discoloured and raised compared to the new ‘normal’ nail growing near the nail bed. Nail problems seem to be a not unusual side effect.

 

I would say best thing to do would be to see your doctor and see if there is anything they can give you to help as the nail is coming away. Hopefully someone with the exact same experience might be able to give a little better advice.

 

Best of luck with the recovery:)

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I was advised to paint nails dark or opt for gel nails before chemo. Apparently when the light gets to the cuticles this is what causes the nails to lift. I’m seeing my oncologist on the 13th Dec and will check this though.