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hillies2's avatar
hillies2
Member
7 years ago

Lumpectomy and deodorant

hi ladies. Lumpectomy on Wednesday. What do I do/don’t do about deodorants? Natural, stick, all that. Also there’ll be radiation. Can anyone firstly tell me what to do/not do and then recommend a brand? Thanks. 

20 Replies

  • I don't use any. Most perfumes and chemical scents give me a roaring headache now, even if someone else is wearing them. Rads fried one armpit so that side doesn't sweat but I frequently get a whiff of myself that smells distinctly like burning rubber. No deodorant on the planet will disguise the smell of 100 smouldering truck tyres so I've given up.
  • @iserbrown. It feels weird still. I am still numb under my arm, so many years later.
  • @pattij - should I say lucky you or not?  I'd be happy if I didn't perspire but I assume it is a natural part of our being
  • I don't perspire on my left hand side where I had mastectomy and axillary clearance.
  • I started using Moo Goo after my mastectomy and simply never stopped (6 years). It does the job and seems benign. 
  • No deodorant under that arm for me for quite a while. Gross.  Couldn't spray the axilliary clearance scar under there and was told no deodorant at all during radiation. You'd probably be safe with the MooGoo one though. They all have different opionions just go with what they tell you. 
  • I was told as long as the deodorant was aluminium free it was OK while going through the radiation treatment. I generally use the crystal type deodorant which is supposedly all natural anyway. Haven’t had any problems with this. 8 more treatments to go and I am really counting them down now!
  • Moo Goo do a stick deodorant that is generally considered okay during radiation.  However, check with your surgeon about using anything after surgery.