Deodorant

Nancdancer

I am using Tom of Maineand it just doesn't do the trick. So embarrassed today at radiation when I smelled!

queenmomcat

(sympathetic moans) Oh my sympathies! I'm just about to enter that crazymaking process myself, and yes! I'm so very worried about that myself. All I can hope is that the rads techs are used to the problem.

CAMommy

I had almost the same post a few weeks ago! I have found Crystals work for me. I bought it at whole foods and it's like a crystal that you wet and then rub under your arm. It really does work. I can't handle strongly scented things because of allergies and this has no scent.

If it helps, I'm sure the rad techs are used to stinky arm pits.

queenmomcat

Glad to know the Crystal brand works; I may yet come back to try that myself.

ksusan

I said to my techs, "Sorry, but I've got no deodorant on," and they said, "Eh, we don't care."

RV6gal

I didn't use any deodorant during radiation but I heard cornstarch recommended to avoid sweating in the radiated area. Maybe it would work well to reduce sweating under the arms as well

meezers3

i had treatment #9 today and was embarrassed when the techs asked me to raise my arms this morning. i had just taken a shower less than an hour before. it got worse this afternoon in work. Then i realized I had onions the day before. Guess onions and garlic are off limits for awhile! Can't wait for this to end!

queenmomcat

Bleep. Onions AND garlic? What am I going to eat? Or rather, do I care enough about what my rad techs think?

Becki1218

I am using a home made deodorant that works and should be safe.

6 tbsp coconut oil

1\4 cup each corn starch & baking soda.

Mix well and store in an air tight container. I keep mine in the fridge in the summer. Also, I use a makeup sponge to apply. You will smell like suntan lotion. I have a tiny little container that I keep in my purse so I can apply after treatment if I'm not going right home.

courtleboo

Schmidt's Deodorant is wonderful. They smell good and keep me smelling good. All natural too.

KBeee

I have used an aluminum free one from Arm and Hammer which has seemed to work.

Ltam16

I can so relate! And the no shaving is upsetting me too. The smell (probably more my perception...I hope it's not that bad), the hair, and feeling like everyone under the sun has seen my breasts...

LRFTexan

Why are there people not shaving? Is there a recommendation to not during radiation?

Thanks.

Sjacobs146

you don't want to irritate the skin by shaving.

littleblueflowers

Ladies aren't shaving because of several things. First, shaving can take off skin cells, and during radiation you want to hang on to every one for as long as you can, because radiation causes skin break down. Second, the skin of an armpit can be numb after axillary lymph node dissection. Radiation can slow healing, so an unnoticed razor nick could be a problem. Third, as radiation goes on, the skin becomes very rough and sore. Also, the hair stops growing and falls out. All that said, my RO said I could shave if I was careful, but my armpit is way to sore to even think about it. HopE this helps!

ksusan

I've started a reply several times and deleted it because I don't want to sound creepy, but here goes. I've had relationships with (ahem) a certain number of women, and would like to share that armpits with hair don't smell bad at all. In fact, rather the opposite.

littleblueflowers

Interesting. I have noticed I smell worse when I shave, and also when I don't sweat enough. Girls rule boys drool! And the social experiment continues...

ORknitter

Funny story about not shaving, I was sitting outside with our youngest daughter (25) who started laughing hysterically. When I finally asked her what was so funny she said "Your arm pit hair is blowing in the wind!" It's been 8 weeks and I still don't have hair where the rads hit.

SOuwant2fite

I haven't used deoderant for over five years. I was in the grocery store looking up and down the aisle for one without aluminum. Ironically, there was a guy in the same isle doing the same. I tried some lame ones that didn't work. I was working as a school cook at the time so we came home some days soaked to our underwear. Then I read a report from a doctor that came in the mail. He said to try 99 percent rubbing alcohol instead of deoderant as it kills the bacteria causing odor. So I filled small spray bottle with the alcohol and sprayed it on in place of deoderant. I carried a bottle with me in case it didn't work. It works, even in a hot kitchen. Remember, it has to be 99 percent.

SOuwant2fite

cornstarch is safer while skin is tender, links to baby and Talcolm powder and ovarian cancer have been recently made. Also the baby shampoo sold as safe for our babies for decades, now know to cause cancer. Apparently, the big company J+J knew this for years.