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Several cancer treatments can damage the nails in a number of different ways. The most obvious and severe damage is caused by chemotherapy. particularly the taxanes  taxotere and taxol. Milder damage can be caused by the biological agents such as sutent, nexavar, vorient or even herceptin. Some women report that hormone drugs such as tamoxifen and the aromoatase inhibitors  can cause the nails to flake. 

Nail damage and chemotherapy. The degree of nail damage depends on:

 - The individual sensitivity to the drugs
 - The dose received
 - How many cycles are given
 - How the nails are cared for during chemotherapy.

Types of nail damage: The earliest and mildest damage results in white lines across the nail which after a while look like the rings of a tree. These actually correspond to the cycles of chemotherapy. 

Next the nails can get weak, brittle, can crack and break easily. After several treatment cycles you may experience a change in the colour of your nails. In more severe cases the nails can start lifting from the nail beds and ooze clear fluid from underneath them, they will be very uncomfortable and often painful. In this situation they often become infected and the clear fluid turns to pus. If this happens a swab should be taken and often antibiotics given.

What can you do to help your nails during chemotherapy (self care guidelines)?

[1] Cool the nail beds: Chapter 14 of the book "Lifestyle after Cancer" describes a technique which has been evaluated in clinical trials and used throughout Europe but largely ignored in the UK. It involves cooling of the nail beds during the chemotherapy infusion and for 20 minutes afterwards. You can use cool water but specifically designed gloves are available in France. For more details you can also link to the case report published in the Medical Journal Focus on Cancer Medicine.

[2] Moisturise the nail beds: We have teamed up with a natural cream maker (see link below) to develop a nail balm which that contains only  natural waxes and rare essential oils selected for their anti-inflammatory and DNA stabilizing properties. This cream can be used on the lips or the nail beds. We recommend massaging onto the nail bed three time a day for the duration of the chemotherapy.

[3] Protect the nails; Anecdotal reports have suggested that  nail varnish can protect the nails - it certainly covers up the discolouration and may prevent splitting and flaking.

[4] Keep the nails clean short and protected from trauma - wear gloves when gardening or washing the dishes for example.

Buy natureMedical organic nail bed balm securely online via paypal using credit or debit card 
Supplied in 12 ml balm tubes containing a unique combination of natural oils designed to moisturise, soothe and protect the nail beds, combined with rare essential herbal oils carefully selected for their anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Delivered within 5 days (Larger orders or trade enquiries please contact us):.

Price options - UK delivery

Two tubes £6.95 GBP Four tubes £11.90 GBP Six tubes £16.90 GBP

Price options - international delivery

Two tubes $7.95 USD Four tubes $12.95 USD Six tubes $17.95 USD

(If there are any issues with your order please email health-education@clara.co.uk

More about natureMedical Nail bed Balm:

The design  We worked on the assumption that oils being applied to a sensitive part of the body such as the nail beds which has rapidly dividing cells should be as pure and natural as  possible and have absolutely no man made chemicals such as perfumes, parabens, or colours. We then medicated the balm with rare essential oils selected for their natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Unlike, other products claiming to be natural we only used the highest grade ingredients - for example organic unrefined shea butter as opposed to simple shea butter thirty times the value, extra virgin cold pressed organic olive oil instead etc.

 

Uses: A high quality all-purpose nail bed cream but also particularly good for dry or sensitive areas such as and around the eyes or between the fingers.

 

natureMedical  Remedy was tested only on healthy volunteers, complies to European Union cosmetics standards (product license 76/768/EEC see www.keep-healthy.com):

 

Waxes and butters: Organic unrefined shea butter (Butyrospermum Parkii),

                                                   Bees wax (Cera Alba)

                                                   Organic extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil

                                                   Organic cocoa seed butter and oil (Theobroma Cacao).

Essential oils:            Tarchonanthus Camphoratus oil (African Sage-Leleschwa)

                                                   Gaultheria Procumbens oil (Wintergreen leaf)

                                                    Lavandula Spica Flower oil (Lavender).

                                                    Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Oil

Traces:                         Linalool, Limonene, Farnesol                                          

 

¹ A cool solution for chemotherapy induced onycholysis: A case report of cold water baths to prevent docetaxel induced onycolysis PM Ding RJ Thomas Clinical focus on Cancer Medicine 2010 2(1): 18-19.

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