Hi...so sorry to hear about more cases of BC....just hate the stuff! For what it's worth, here's my opinion about nails and cancer. Over the years, I've had several clients who've gone through chemo/radiation or some combo of intense treatments. In these cases, the body is literally fighting for life...the way chemo works is that it accumulates in the body's cells...and the areas that grow the fastest get filled up with chemo and can't function correctly...and thus die off and are shed by the body. Cancer cells grow exponentially faster than "normal" cells...so the theory is that the cells that are cancerous get filled up with the chemo before all the other cells, and die off and are eliminated. The tricky thing is other faster-growing cells can also be affected....like epithelial cells---hair, skin, nails, mucus membranes, etc. Along with that, the body only has so many resources....so the nutrients and energy go to the most important parts first. Hair, and nails are are NOT necessary for life, so they get a lower priority...and they suffer. This is why we lose our hair during chemo....and most people usually have problems with their nails, as well...it's just not as well known.
The usual effect on nails seems to be simple separation from the nail plate....and as we all know, this is a prime opportunity for cooties to set up housekeeping in a warm, moist, (and if dark) especially hospitable place. Add to that a repressed immune system...and you've got a real risk of nail infections. As I've said, I've had several clients over the years and I've experimented on them (and myself) and here is my recommendation for folks with intense cancer treatments: Keep nails clean of **ALL** products. Keep them trimmed short, clean, dry....aim a blow dryer at your toes after a shower for a few seconds! Keep 'em light and bright so it's not a great place for dermotophytes to get a colony started up. Use a wide-spectrum antimicrobial (anti-bacterial/anti-viral/anti-fungal) oil or treatment several times a week on both fingers and toe nails. (Poshe has a great anti-microbial oil...Dr. G's is awesome, etc.) Do not over file, buff or otherwise agitate the nails...shorten with a straight-edged clipper, nibbling little by little to shorten and just a few whisks with a very fine file to finish the free edge. Treat them as if they are fragile...and in fact, the connective tissue under them IS fragile.. Tell your clients that they can expect deep lines running cross-wise across the nail beds...I could literally track each chemo treatment on mine! As long as the matrix is not damaged, they can expect their nails to grow out just fine over time. I know the Look Good Feel Better program promotes manicures....but honestly, to me, the potential to create problems on the nails is just too great. If someone really wants to look good for an event....I'd suggest a simple polish only--no soaking or pushing back cuticles...and remove it soon as possible. Or if they just have to have something, I'd recommend Poshe's Antimicrobial Treatment base coat as a clear coat, only, on the nail. Everyone is different, but following the above resulted in my not losing a single nail...and the last of the lines has now grown out. I have had two clients that I worked with through their treatments....and they had good luck, too. As for the hair, I wouldn't bother with color....but I did trim it very, very short when it started coming out by the hand fulls...it makes it easier to deal with. It just breaks your heart to have a whole gob of long hair hit the floor of the shower. Whether or not you shave your head, is up to you...I found it easier. But I wish I'd thought to do what Farah did...keep a small fringe of bangs for as long as I could. The last weird thing is that my eyelashes are still going through phases....a lot of them are on the same growth cycle and every 6-8 weeks, the older ones fall out and there'll be a whole batch of small ones growing in! I can't wait until some of them get on another cycle!!!! lololol I truly hope this helps someone. If any of you or someone you know has any questions, I am more than happy to have a conversation. With Joy, Karen Hodges Morning Glory Key West ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, December 15, 2009 1:39:42 PM Subject: Re: NailTech:: Help (Breast Cancer and Nail Enhancement Help) Hi, My mom had breast cancer as well. It was recommended that she not put any type chemicals on her nails. No coloring of hair as well. This is what HER doctor advised her. I hope others will chime in. Best wishes to your Mother!!!! Happy Holidays to You Also. Della In a message dated 12/15/2009 1:30:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Hello, My mother has Breast Cancer. We just found out in Sept. My >question is can she have nail enhancements, or nail extensions. >( ACRYLIC OR GEL). PLEASE SHARE YOUR INFO. >THANKS. >"Happy Holidays" > >-- > >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >"NailTech" group. >To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >[email protected]. >For more options, visit this group at >http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > > --You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en.
