Hi everyone, I am yet to start my chemo regime . Have been reading about everyone’s different side effects....I realise that not every person gets every side effect.....but! besides hair loss, nausea, fatigue, chemo brain, I read about nails dropping off or going yellow? Is that common?

@JenniA Yes it is scary but you'll be right. We'll hold your hand all the way through. Myself, @Finch and @"Kiwi Angel" have all had TC this year and lived to tell the tale! It's no parts of fun but keep your eyes on the prize, it's getting rid of any stray cells that could come back to haunt you later.Ask any questions whenever you like. There's no such thing as a silly one. There's a discussion dedicated to TC you might like to read when you're ready. Don't scare yourself though. If you're feeling wobbly, save it for another time!https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/18193/tc-chemotherapyI was petrified before my first chemo. Fear of the unknown is very powerful. But you'll becsurprised how quickly it becomes routine! There's excellent drugs to keep nausea under control, and I didn't have any mouth ulcer issues which I was stressing about. The thing is we all react differently to the same drugs, and no one gets ALL the side effects! You will feel very tired, you will lose your hair (unless you do the cold cap and it works for you) and you will almost certainly have altered tastebuds, but after that it's a total roll of the dice if or how you'll be affected.On the plus side, I didn't have to worry about shaving my legs or underarms for for months! In fact knowing that now, I'd recommend getting them waxed (and your bikini line) about a week after your first infusion. You'll be ultra smooth for ages! Hang in there lovely. K xox

@JenniA I had TC chemo , You'll find you have a three week cycle. The third week I booked fun things so I had things to look forward to each cycle. It really helped and made a huge difference for me. For me the worst thing, was the taste and feeling of my mouth. Everything tasted awful. I had vegemite with everything as it was about the only thing I could taste. Any questions just ask. Sending you best wishes. XXXX

Depends which chemo you are having @fletch The nail thing is pretty common with TC. My local hospital is pretty basic, but they did have ice mittens which, I think, kept my fingernails intact. I was also advised to paint them black to keep the light off. Not a fashion choice I'd have gone for usually, but it seemed to work. They were thin and brittle by the end but I didn't lose them. My toenails were a different story, they were disgusting. The upside was my persistent toenail fungus, which had resisted years of treatment gave up. Winner!

I had AC-T which is not as rough on the nails but now that I've come to the end, my fingernails are breaking and flaking and a couple of my toenails have gone yellow and will eventually come off, I think. Not going to be a good look in sandals, this summer.

Taxol toenails! Mine all stayed on, but brown, grey, chalk white. Also split in some cases, opening up up like a bit of veneer left out in the rain. Not a good look in summer. Fingernails looked slightly as if I smoked but nothing worse. Toenails take some time to grow out. Don't know how common it is but it can happen. Mine didn't hurt at all, just looked awful.

Side Effects from Chemo | BCNA Online Network

25 Replies

Afraser
Member
7 years ago
Don't panic! It is variable but mostly it's short term. I lost most of my body and head hair, not very fine downy hair (remember that chemo targets fast growing cells) but pubic hair, undearm hair, leg hair, yes and eyebrows and eyelashes. But there's a positive - no waxing or shaving! Dark nail varnish may protect nails - I didn't use anything and my fingernails got a few fine ridges and a very slight discolouration that no-one but me would have noticed. Toenails not so good. The layers of nail split and expanded and eight went black, brown, grey or chalk white. Didn't lose any and two remained completely normal. Go figure! Oh and no nausea, no fatigue, no chemo brain. It's a lottery! Best wishes
judys
Member
7 years ago
I had 12 weeks of chemo with hair loss, fatigue , a little nausea and frequent diarhoea.
But when I started FEC (3 treatments at 3 week intervals )I had nausea every morning,lost eyelashes and eyebrows and all body hair.Lots of fatigue too and then a sore throat and mouth which my GP treated with an antibiotic. My fingernails - i treated them with a nail product and while a bit cloudy, I have kept them.So good luck - it does vary from one person to another. I find it is important to have another "sufferer" to share complaints and to ask for help, medical and otherwise for all the side effectds. DO NOT SUFFER IN SILENCE. There is stuff to help. And you may very well feel fine most of the time. Get out and do all the things you normally would do and ask friends and family for help - be specific. Hope it goes well. Judy
judys
Member
7 years ago

Fletch said:

Hi everyone, I am yet to start my chemo regime . Have been reading about everyone’s different side effects....I realise that not every person gets every side effect.....but! besides hair loss, nausea, fatigue, chemo brain, I read about nails dropping off or going yellow? Is that common?
Fletch
Member
8 years ago
Hi everyone, Thankyou for all the support. Yes, I will come back once I know my regime.
Best wishes.x
Doin_it
Member
8 years ago
Definitely easier than I thought! Wasn’t sure what it was going to be.....
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
Bone scans are the best test eh? You just lie there! If only they were all so easy... :)
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Trikki2 See above!
Doin_it
Member
8 years ago
You girls are all amazing! What an awesome sisterhood. Thanks @Finch. It makes everything so much easier to bear when we’re going through the same thing & can discuss it openly. Looks like I’d better buy up on the vegemite xxx
Finch
Member
8 years ago
@JenniA I had TC chemo , You'll find you have a three week cycle. The third week I booked fun things so I had things to look forward to each cycle. It really helped and made a huge difference for me.
For me the worst thing, was the taste and feeling of my mouth. Everything tasted awful. I had vegemite with everything as it was about the only thing I could taste. Any questions just ask. Sending you best wishes. XXXX
Doin_it
Member
8 years ago
@Sister thanks, I’m trying x

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Side Effects from Chemo

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