Shaving

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AnnieBear
AnnieBear Member Posts: 96
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have a question - my doctor told me not to shave under my arm during radiation therapy.  I've also read the same thing in all of the literature I've seen about radation.  I've only had five treatments and so far things are o.k.  This weekend I was tempted to shave, but I didn't.  Has anyone continued shaving during radiation?

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited August 2010

    I was told the same thing.  I did shave  - VERY LIGHTLY, not close - for the first couple of weeks of my rads.  I THINK the reason for no shaving is due to irritation and possibly nicking oneself (not sure how that would effect rads although radiated areas tend to not heal well I think).  Now I occassionaly shave, lightly, the part of my arm pit not getting rads.  I am very sore now so I don't want to shave the radiated area!  (I am 25 days of 28 days of tx).

    Kim

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited August 2010

    I had 30 rad zaps (25 full breast + 5 boosts) and did shave a couple of times during the process, and everything was fine. Think it probably does depend upon how much, if any, of your underarm is in the field of treatment -- in fact, I recall rad. tech. mentioning that typically that hair falls out because of the treatment, but that wasn't the case for me. I never used a straight razor, just an electric, and was very very careful not to irritate the skin at all.

    Other than this "breaking of the instructions," I did everything else by the book.

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited August 2010

    I have a sore area under my arm that I had the nurse look at today and she asked it I'd shaved (I guess it was obvious since my hair wasn't really long) so i confessed.  She didn't give me a hard time so it must not be the worst thing I could have done.  She did say using an electric razor would be okay.

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  • Krissy37
    Krissy37 Member Posts: 291
    edited August 2010

    Hi

    I used an electric razor for the first half of treatment, then the hair stopped growing back.  Now I only grow hair on half of my armpit.  Just be careful and you should be fine :)

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  • lane4
    lane4 Member Posts: 175
    edited August 2010

    AnnieBear,

    Try asking at your next treatment.  I asked the rads techs if I could shave with an electric shaver and they said yes, but be careful.  I did shave a few times at the beginning, but then the hair stopped growing, so it quit being a problem.  And like Krissy37, I only grow hair on the upper part of my underarm now.  I also used Alra non-metallic deodorant on that side after my radiation oncologist said that would be fine. I still use it when I have to go for a mammogram.

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited August 2010

    I did not shave and didn't give it a second thought.  I mean, women in other countries don't bother so why should I run the risk of getting an infection from a nick or cut?  Now 3 months post zaps. there is a part that no longer seems to grow any hair. .  .I have shaved but I am very careful about it.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited August 2010

    I didn't shave either.  They said not to and I didn't.  Did not want any complications--This experience was stressful and that was one stress i could avoid!

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