Finger nails turning colors from chemo

[Laura10]

I am 6 weeks post chemo (Taxotere and Carboplatin) and my fingernails turned black about 3 weeks ago.  Now the black spots are turning white and my nails are very loose around the white spots.  I trimmed them very low and have been using "Hard as Nails."

Anyone else experience this?  What did you do?  Has anyone actually had their nails fall off altogether?  

Thank you!

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Some chemotherapeutic drugs can cause nail discoloration.  The nails can also get dry and brittle and flake off, although this does not happen often.  These conditions are temporary and will slowly disappear after the last cycle of chemotherapy is finished.  You can try using moisturizing creams to avoid nail flaking.  You can also apply some nail polish if the discoloration really bothers you.

[darcytwin]

a friend of mine who has already gone thru chemo lost her big toe nail and 2 finger nails due to chemo...honestly, i dont know if they turned black first or not....id just keep them trimmed as short as possible and be careful not to snag them on anything....