Do toe nails recover from chemo damage?

I have used nail oil all the way through and I am now 1 month post chemo abd have managed to hold onto all of them so far, though my 2 large toenails are just holding on. I also keep my nails painted dark as I read that this helps and they look as if the horrid brown lines are not at the bottom of the nails. My finger nails are also yellow/brown at the top but I keep them short and painted so I think they will recover first as they grow faster! I hope that they will both be back to normal in a few months, I’m sure it’s the chemo that caused the problem and now it’s just a matter of time. 
can’t wait to have eyebrows, eyelashes and lovely nails again

I painted both finger and toe nails dark with natural nail varnish. Finger nails discoloured anyway, but grew out and are super strong again, growing very fast, just like they did pre-chemo

Toe nails are another story! They have barely grown at all and are very thickened. A couple of them are not too bad but they are still very damaged. It has been 11 months since I stopped docetaxel. I guess eventually they will grow out but rate of growth is so slow that I can't see them being ok for another year, though maybe toe nails are one of the last places for the chemo to leave your system so they will start picking up.

I'm hopeful as my finger nails are so good.

Thanks both. Initially my nails were all fine. Painted toe nails dark. Thought I'd got away with it but then as time went on both hands and toe nails deteriorated. Finger nails very frail. But they are growing out now. Seem to be getting stronger although still very brittle and weak, but I can detect an improvement. Stopped varnishing toe nails as they started to come away. New growth, but slow, ugly, brown... Generally pretty gross. Don't think they are in a state to varnish and hide at the moment. Some too small, uneven etc etc. Just looking for solutions really or something to do to promote healthy growth. Maybe I just need to wait.

Can you see a podiatrist through the NHS? I think in some areas you can, and it might be helpful to rule out fungal infection or anything else.

That's probably a good idea to be fair. Thanks 

Hello Iblodwin

I had the same chemos as you and the H&P. My toenails went very ridgy and yellowish brown -looked like bad nicotine staining. I finished chemo in March and still have 4 more h&p  to go. Toe nails are now back as they were before and look OK both colour and texture wise. Finger nails are not quite so strong but look OK. They are a bit flakier than usual, so keeping them short and wearing rubber gloves for cleaning and housework. Chemopharmacist told me to use vaseline on them and hands.

Good luck with your nails 

WallyDug

Ah, that's reassuring... Thanks WallyDug... Yes your description of the nails is  very accurate. Thank you