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Lynnie1974's avatar
Lynnie1974
Member
6 years ago

Nails detached after chemo

Hi everyone

I was wondering if people could share their stories on the impact chemo had to their nails and how long it took to recover. After Paclitaxel the nailbeds on my thumbs and first 2 fingers on both hands swelled, pushing my nails off the nailbeds. Then after the swelling subsided these nails became detached from the nailbed. 

I decided in order to hide the state of my nails (because I was sick of painting them to disguise the green and black colouring) that I'd get SNS. After having it on for probably 1.5-2 months I think the nails are even more detached than they were after chemo! I think that because the SNS is so hard it's stopping my nails from growing along the nailbed. Has anyone else successfully done anything to make their nails 'pretty' whilst trying to get them back to health?

I need to get the SNS taken off but the other night I smacked my thumbnail on one hand on the bench and the entire nail virtually came off. It is now 'stuck' down but is incredibly painful and will likely fall off entirely. I need to get the SNS off but you do it by soaking the nail in acetone which just isn't an option right now with all the trauma to my thumb :(
chemotherapy-side-effects
nails

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  • Nefertari's avatar
    Nefertari
    Member
    6 years ago
    You poor darling that sounds awful and truly painful, I would speak to the chemo nurses, maybe they will have a solution. 
    I didn't have any come off but they were pretty sore especially the middle and index fingernails on both hands, then I got PN and they just felt weird and sort of more painful,  so I had to cut them short.
    I painted mine with nail hardener, no dark polish as I did not like the look on me. It oddly helped to ease the pain?
    Seven months after finishing chemo, I have two fingernails that are ridgy and split a fair way down but are growing out. My other nails look nice.
    Good luck, I hope you recover soon.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    6 years ago
    You poor thing! My fingernails mercifully were not bad at all, close inspection showed a slightly tan colour, a pale version of a smoker’s fingernail but nothing worse. My toenails were white, brown and black and while none of them came off, some nails thickened and split, like veneer left in the rain. Over six years later a couple are still a mite odd. At least I could keep my toenails more easily hidden, although visits to spas and pools almost needed a sign - ‘I do not have a fungal disease!’ I never painted toe or fingernails, which I have occasionally thought was a mistake but maybe not. Even normal polish affects my toenails if left on for too long now. If the thumbnail doesn’t come off of its own accord, it may need to be removed by your doctor. Best wishes.