Sore armpits

Hi!  After my first visit to the surgeon after surgery he told me I could start using deodorant again.  I use Moo Goo Deodorant - I had found on this forum someone had recommended it and it works a treat for me.  I also use QV cream on the mastectomy site twice daily.  My scar has healed well but it is about keeping the integrity of the skin.  The Physio commented recently how good my skin was and it was important to keep up the routine.

The sensation of the underarm is the nerves.  Hopefully you are keeping your exercises up. 

Take care and make sure you walk those hands up a wall gently, one of the easy exercises given!

Also, talk to your Breast Care Nurse as she will be able to guide you as well as.

Christine xx

I kept on with my pillow thing under the elbow so the rubbing was less. It does get better and I think it was only a couple of weeks that it lasted and then came good. I stopped using deodorant of any kind especially during chemo as I would get little fatty pimples and all sorts to my skin even downstairs area which were difficult to heal without prescribed creams. I did have a little bit of that pre surgery antibacterial wash left and washed my underarms and downstairs area with that. Just tiny bits but what it did was completely eliminate all odours. I found that just using soaps in the shower did nothing and when I would be towelling off and hot after the shower I could smell odour already. The antibacterial stopped all that in its tracks and I didn't need any deodorants at all through the day. Even now I just might use a little perfume or body spray when I go out and that's all.

I have only had a lumpectomy and sosor7-10 days later my armpit started to get sore and kept on getting sore and I was using absolutely no deodorant as read best not to use any for weeks afterwards. Just washed the area with a cream based soap free body wash.

Breast care nurse said it was normal for armipts tonhurt more as time progressed as nevres were healing and by God she was right...

For about 2 weeks that armpit drive me.insane so much so that was also getting incredibly itchy and that was worse than pain so in the end I would apply over the counter cream from chemist that was for skin allergies. It helped relieve the irritated feeling. Pain though drove me nuts for about 2 weeks and by week 5 it stoppJel

One thing that helped as well was popping a damp towel into the frudge for a whole then applying it to the armpit for a minute to cool it down when feeling irritated.

Mind you mine was a much.less invasive surgery. I would touch base with tour cance centre or the breast care nurse as they may be able to help even if it is recomment exercuses or physio or you may need some pain relief as well.

Just remember to do your exercises as that was 1 thibg beasr care nurse warned me about - she insisuted I retain full range of arm movement as she said many women once that oain sets in try to avoid moving their arm and get a locked shoulder. 

Definitely worth touching base with them.

All the best

Jel

I should add that my armpit skin looks completely normal. No redness or skin damage at all. 

The sensation is exactly as if it is red raw, however.