Nails after Chemotherapy

[karentriff]

Hi I would like some advice please. I did a set of french nails on a lady last evening and she brought her mother with her.
The mother would love a set of enhancements but has just finished chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer. During the treatment a special day is held to advise the ladies on how to care for themselves and what body changes to expect during treatment. The lady instructor said their nails will weaken and some will fall off. She said not to have enhancements because their nails need to breathe to heal. Her nails are paper thin but so far it doesn't look like she will lose any. Is it true does anyone know that she shouldn't have enhancements? Her cancer treatment is finished now. I was thinking perhaps an overlay would help protect her nails while they regain their strength.
Cheers
Karen

 

[ValencianNails]

The lady instructor said their nails will weaken and some will fall off. She said not to have enhancements because their nails need to breathe to heal.

Nails don't breathe, it's a myth.

http://www.salongeek.com/nail-geek/65593-client-chemo.html
The above thread will help as there are a few other chemo related threads linked on there.

hth's

 

[karentriff]

Thanks for that Sandi.
I'm going to have a think about how to proceed.
I'm not very experienced having only just finished my training and assessments and waiting on my results.
Do you think perhaps I should refer her to another technician with lots of experience to do her enhancements if she wants to go ahead with them. It's not that I lack confidence but was wondering for her sake if I should refer her on. I'm fairly slow taking 1 3/4 hours to do a full set of french acrylic and whilst my brush control is fairly good now and I don't have much filing to shape etc a more experienced technician would probably need to file even less than I do.
Cheers
Karen

 

[joanne7174]

My mother in law had chemo for breast cancer and after the treatment finished about 6 - 8 weeks later all of her finger and toe nails lifted and came off it was pretty awfull but they are all growing back healty now but I dont think it would be such a good idea to put enhancements on this lady as it could be some time before she has problems with her natural nails so its best to play safe.

 

[VillageNails]

i was a macmillan nurse for 10 years before doing nails
some chemo drugs cause the skin to be hypersensitive to the sun so for these clients - gel,(because of the uv light to cure) is a no-no.
some clients have horizontal lines/indentations that seem to correspond with the no.of sessions of chemo they have. Their nails will be weak. Chemotherapy is used to interfere with the replication of rapidly dividing cells(tumour cells) but are not cell selective so also affect hair/skin/nails/gut etc.
Yes try enhancements but do a thorough client cons. and prep - obviously if the nail was hanging off then don't proceed - but we all have loads of clients who come to us with weak /paper thin/ breaking nails and we treat them accordingly.
ask the client to check with their specialist nurse - they all have access to one.