side affects

Hi Vinn. I had the same treatment as you with Herceptin as well and yes got the same effect. I only got it in two of my fingers on my right hand but it was enough to make it difficult for me to do up buttons, brush my teeth and type on a computer keyboard. I found it was accumulative in that it got worse between round 1, 2 and 3 but it stayed the same for round 4 and disappeared about 7 weeks after I finished chemo. It's amazing what these drugs can do to our body. If you haven't already, I would definitely mention this to your oncology team next time.

Hope it eases up soon for you.

Take care

Nadine

There can be two things going on with fingers and toes. One is the nerves like you said and can be quite serious and damage can be permanent if its pushed too far. My oncology nurse told me to make sure I tell them immediately as further full doses could make it worse.

The other is what happened about 2 weeks after my 4th dose, the nail beds were damaged and for a week or two every time I used a nail it would lever the nail up and the nail bed would recede down the finger. I ended up I cut my nails back very carefully so I couldn't use the nails at all, not even to scratch myself. This stopped further damage and within a couple of weeks the beds had firmed so no further receding occurred. Now I just have to wait for the receded bits to grow out as its still touchy to use the nails at all. It takes ages.

hi, thank you for your reply. The problem did not start until after my 2nd round but it was only light but after the 3rd round it got worse after about  week.

Yes it is really annoying as I work in an office and have to use my hands all the time. I find it even hurts to hold the steering wheel. I tried to file my nails last nite and that was torture but couldn't stand seeing my nails look crap for 1 minute longer. I can't even use the finger scanner at work anymore as my hands are so dry the skin is now peeling (have tried all sorts of hand creams but they don't help) Today it also hurt to wear my shoes and I also do a lot of walking at work. I just hope the damage is not permanent or I will not be happy.

I told my Medical Oncologist and the nurses. I am taking a lot of naturopathic detox and mega doses of different vitamins but nothing has helped to counteract these side affects.

hi, thank you for your reply. I left a comment above you can see. I am so hoping this is not permanent. I will be ringing my Medical Oncologist first thing Monday to report it again. I have found my nails have gone strange as well, they hurt if I push or touch the tips of my nails. I love having nails and have always pride myself on my strong healthy nails.

Take care with this - it's peripheral neuropathy, damage to nerve endings in your extremities and can affect your toes (and feet) too. So monitor carefully. I found Vitamin B helped but it's a sometime thing. If it gets worse you may want to talk to your oncologist about dosage. Conventional wisdom is it may continue to get a bit worse after you finish treatment but mine didn't.

it can take time to recover depending on the severity. 

Bedt wishes

Please contact your Oncologist or at least the breast care nurse as some people develop permanent damage and you need to ensure you do not become one of them...

I too have been warned about it and luckilly no such symptoms (on my 3rd round of AC at the moment).

I did however meet a pathology nurse at the local Hospital who due to her Herceptnie treatment has been suggering from nerve damage for 6 years now because she did not report it in time...

I hope it is a passing sideffect for you but do let them know what is going on...

Hugs

Jel.

Hi,

i am 7 months since finishing chemo and still have finger and toe numbness, tingling in my feet. I had painful calves and feet too. I have finished treatment but my oncologist says it could be chemo, lack of estrogen in my body?? Anyway, I've found it comes and goes and doesn't stay permanently. 

Nothing that the oncologists seem to ignore the side effects.

i lost 2 big toenails and the other toenails went black bar 4 after docetaxol. Also ridges in my fingernails.

But gladly my finger nails and toes have grown out and are as strong as ever.

I did have laser acupuncture on my legs which drew blood to my nerve endings and finally had rested legs at night.

I hope you find something to lessen your side effects too.

all the best.

kym

Unfortunately it is a side effect from Docetaxel......I finished my last dose on 31/5 and still have numbness in fingers and toes and my feet are peeling terribly....my nails are still intact though, but they are sore to touch....It effects how i can hold and grip things in my hands and have dropped many things! .I am consulting with my Onc on wednesday and will mention i still have this symptom...I've been told it can be permanent....You should mention it to yours so they can keep an eye....mention amy side effect, no matter how small you think it may be...wishing you easy times ahead

Not to cause alarm (and many people do recover feeling) I am now 3 years post chemo and have what may be permanently affected feet. The very tips of my fingers are still a bit numb, but this affects nothing. I still can't tuck my toes under at yoga, and the sensation in my feet veers between walking on honeycomb (patches with apparently nothing underneath) or wearing five pairs of socks - comfy but a bit unnerving for balance.

I don't for a minute regret having treatment - I am remarkably well under the circumstances, but it's wise to get someone to take this seriously as I got to the stage of worrying about walking. I believe the issue was caused by Taxol not Herceptin, as did my oncology nurses. I continued on Herceptin for 9 months after finishing Taxol, during which time my feet slowly improved.

Side affect of Docetaxel, can be in hands and feet, called peripheral neuropathy. I still have it over a year later.