Docetaxel

I wore black nail varnish while on Docetaxel. A couple of weeks after the last dose, I removed the varnish and noticed that my nails were thick and some were starting to lift off the nail bed. I read about Polybalm and wished I'd known about it before starting Docetaxel as it's been shown to help prevent nail damage. I got some and have been using it every day since. It's a really good nail moisturiser if nothing else. The damaged nails are growing out and I didn't lose any, thankfully. Polybalm is expensive but I dreaded the thought of losing my nails. I can't be sure whether the black varnish and Polybalm helped but for me they were worth a try. Look for water based nail varnish and acetone-free varnish remover. Keep hands and nails well moisturised and wear rubber gloves for cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc. (basically keep hands out of water and contact with cleaning products as much as possible).

Thanks for sharing your experience with black nail varnish and Docetaxel. It's really great to hear that you found a solution to help your nails during the treatment. I can imagine how concerning it must have been to see your nails thickening and lifting off the bed. Polybalm sounds like a fantastic find, and it's wonderful that your damaged nails are on the mend.

I totally agree with your tips on using water-based nail varnish and acetone-free remover. It's essential to keep nails and hands moisturized, especially during treatments like Docetaxel. And wearing rubber gloves for various activities is a practical idea to protect your nails and skin.

Although I haven't personally dealt with toenail fungus, I can imagine that your insights might be helpful for others who face similar nail-related challenges. It's always worth exploring different products and methods when it comes to nail care.

I had four cycles.  Not too bad.  I didn't need very many anti nausea pills, but lost my hair.  It grew back pretty quickly though.

Everyone reacts so differently, docetaxal caused me muscle joint bone pain as well as neuropathy in hands and feet , so to prevent neuropathy, my last dose this week will be reduced.  I take the immunity filgrastrim injections to keep white blood count high. I’m using tea tree oil to prevent nail loss and my period stoped. 

Don’t worry too much it’s doable. I lost my hair but didn’t find cap( found that others cold capping wasn’t very successful) . I have had my last cycle today (12th weekly). No signs of neuropathy but have wore iced socks and Aldi iced my hands which I swear has helped minimise symptoms of neuropathy. I also wear black water based nail polish throughout . No signs of any nail damage. Symptoms which I feel are manageable include tiredness, fatigue, anemia( towards end) which results in shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, cough on exertion. Sleep at night is very different and don’t feel like I go into deep sleep. Taste has gone so I do now have difficulty eating meals or specific foods. I also  very loose stools throughout but better than having constipation lol. Everyone is different and some will have more symptoms than others . I feel privileged I am not yo bad at all on chemo . Praying it’s going yo continue on ec starting next week . Best of luck 

Ec was a bit easier than docetaxal, I got sick with flu and cold on it though , the anti sick meds made me sleepy and feel worse , but only lasted a few days 

Hi, I blogged about my experience, this might help you.  Chemo blog link

best wishes