Women & Breast Cancer Treatments?

Question

I have a friend that her breast cancer has come back after 6 yrs..3wks ago they did a double mastectomy and yesterday she started chemo.. now my question is , why would they put her hands in ice to keep her fingernails from falling off.. I have never heard of such a thing? Is the chemo so nasty that you loose your hair and your nails? I pray for her and her family but wow ! Can someone answer this?

Answer 1

It is possible to lose your nails during chemo.  The technical name that you are looking for is cryotherapy.  Keeping the nails cold during the treatment can help reduce damage to the nail (some women also put their toenails in ice).  By keeping the nails cooler than other parts of the body the chemo can't reach the nails as easily, causing less cellular damage.  

I'm so sorry to hear that your friend's cancer has returned, it's difficult to handle.  I'll keep you all in my thoughts.

If you are looking for a good resource, check www.breastcancer.org --the site has tons of information and message boards.  Almost anyone can find support there...there is even a section for friends and family of patients.  It has been a lot of help to me over the past nine months.