Finger nails are weird

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Mizz Marcia Ryder - 25 Sep 2006 05:00 GMT

I just took my 4th A/C chemo treatment last week. Just shortly before
that I noticed my finger nails have a "wavy" texture. Also my fingers
(palm side) almost feel as if the skin is not as thick as before. Just the
pressure from a zipper I was struggling with caused a red spot on the
side of my index finger. The feeling is sort of a extra sensitivity. Also
my palms are red sometimes. What's going on here?
Marsha

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allan - 25 Sep 2006 13:34 GMT

> I just took my 4th A/C chemo treatment last week. Just shortly before
> that I noticed my finger nails have a "wavy" texture. Also my fingers
> (palm side) almost feel as if the skin is not as thick as before. Just the
> pressure from a zipper I was struggling with caused a red spot on the
> side of my index finger. The feeling is sort of a extra sensitivity. Also
> my palms are red sometimes. What's going on here?

Hi, Marsha -

Couple things going on here. The nail changes are normal and
reversible. When you stop the AC your nails will get better but it
will take awhile.

The issue with your fingers and the palms of your hands is called
peripheral neuropathy and while it's not a common side effect of
Adriamycin it's not unknown either. It's a bit of nerve irritation and
may or not resolve over time - most of the time it does get better. It
can take days, weeks or months for it to get better, though.

Adriamycin isn't as notorious as Taxol, Taxotere or Xeloda for causing
peripheral neuropathy but please let your oncologist know about it. If
it gets worse they can prescribe a drug called Lyrica to help with it
(and pain meds if required) but it sounds like a pretty mild case of
neuropathy to me.

Hope this helps -

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A.P. Thorsen - 26 Sep 2006 01:42 GMT

>> I just took my 4th A/C chemo treatment last week. Just shortly before
>> that I noticed my finger nails have a "wavy" texture. Also my fingers
>> (palm side) almost feel as if the skin is not as thick as before.

...

> Couple things going on here. The nail changes are normal and
> reversible. When you stop the AC your nails will get better but it
> will take awhile.

Very true, but during chemo I found the nails became more brittle &
sometimes would start to split along the weak part of the wave. If you
start seeing that tendency, one of those clear nail-strengthening coatings
(like a nail polish, but tougher) is a good preventive. Put it on so
there's a small coating on the end (i.e. edge) of the nail to reduce
splitting in layers, if that's a problem.

> The issue with your fingers and the palms of your hands is called
> peripheral neuropathy and while it's not a common side effect of
> Adriamycin it's not unknown either. It's a bit of nerve irritation and
> may or not resolve over time - most of the time it does get better. It
> can take days, weeks or months for it to get better, though.

Yeah, peripheral neuropathy would be a strong possibility (I had some on
AC), but you also may literally be a little thinner-skinned. If you're
doing something (like normal life <grin>) that causes a little friction to
your hands, the skin probably won't regrow/renew as fast as normal. If
that's happening, avoid friction (pat hands dry vs. brisk scrub with a rough
towel, stuff like that), use lotion, etc.

For me, the AC peripheral neuropathy faded post-chemo to a mostly
unnoticeable level. I notice a little loss of sensitivity or tingling when
I'm fatigued, or have used my hands/feet much more than normal, but it's
very slight.

So, everything should get back to normal in the long run, and I hope these
won't give you too much trouble in the long run.

Take care,

Ann T.
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Mizz Marcia Ryder - 26 Sep 2006 04:14 GMT

>"A.P. Thorsen" wrote :
>> "allan" wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> reversible. When you stop the AC your nails will get better but it
>> will take awhile.

But I am starting Taxol next. Does it have any affect on the nails or
nerves?

> Very true, but during chemo I found the nails became more brittle &
> sometimes would start to split along the weak part of the wave. If you
> start seeing that tendency, one of those clear nail-strengthening coatings
> (like a nail polish, but tougher) is a good preventive. Put it on so
> there's a small coating on the end (i.e. edge) of the nail to reduce
> splitting in layers, if that's a problem.

The strong nail polish is an idea. My instructions were not to paint the
finger or toe nails (so they could observe discoloration) but the clear
would be ok. Actually, verticle waves aside, my nails are actually stronger
than usual. I normally have layer splitting issues but that seems to have
actually improved. One thing I forgot to mention is the halfmoon area of the
nail is pink instead of white.

>> The issue with your fingers and the palms of your hands is called
>> peripheral neuropathy and while it's not a common side effect of
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> that's happening, avoid friction (pat hands dry vs. brisk scrub with a
> rough towel, stuff like that), use lotion, etc.

My next visit is with the Nurse Practitioner instead of the Onc (on
vacation)
and I will certainly bring this up to her. I'm leaning toward Ann's idea
about
the thinner-skin possibility. Actually my "normal life" lately has included
playing the piano and washing my hands 5-6 times a day with anti-bacterial
soap because of handling my elderly (and sometimes "stinky") Himilayan
cat. I also have had a tendency to rub the hands alot when drying. Now
that you mention it, I had a very mild rash develop along my shaved hairline
and I read somewhere to switch to a milder soap. Since I've been using Dove
i/o Aniti-bac I've had no trouble with that. Also I should use lotion more.
I never liked to before because most lotions are so greasy and I hated
getting oil on my piano keys and viola fingerboard.

> For me, the AC peripheral neuropathy faded post-chemo to a mostly
> unnoticeable level. I notice a little loss of sensitivity or tingling
> when I'm fatigued, or have used my hands/feet much more than normal, but
> it's very slight.

Again, on the side of the thin-skin argument, I do not feel any *lack* of
sensitivity nor do I feel any tingling or numbness in the finger pads.
If anything they are over sensitive. Course, that could change any
day, right? I pray not.

> So, everything should get back to normal in the long run, and I hope these
> won't give you too much trouble in the long run.

I hope not either. I am also a violist and hope to get back to playing that
instrument. However, given my calluses on my left finger tips are surely
gone after over 5 months of non-playing, I don't think now would be a
good time to try to re-develop those calluses! Ouch!

Thanks all for your quick responses!
Marsha

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pami - 25 Sep 2006 15:54 GMT

I also developed some Vitalgo (sp) white patches of skin under the arms and
noticed a small patch on my belly. I never had this before chemo. It's
time for a skin check-up. My nails have ridges going arcoss the nail like a
valley.
Pami

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Pam Cook - 25 Sep 2006 19:08 GMT

> I also developed some Vitalgo (sp) white patches of skin under the arms and
> noticed a small patch on my belly. I never had this before chemo. It's
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> I had last chemo (FEC) in june 05 and my big toe nails fell out and my

finger nails are still ridged length-ways..my little fingers are the
worst.... Other than that no lasting effects... Except 'chemo brain' which I
use as an excuse for everything I forget or don't do...and at work, they're
far too nice to pull me up on this...even tho' hubby says I was the same
BEFORE the chemo.... there a very few 'perks' on this roller-coaster, and
I intend to make the most of 'em all....
Pam

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