radiated foob doesn't sweat anymore....... why?

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mom3band1g
mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have started taking a hot yoga class a couple times a week and it is HOT!  Love it!  I am covered in sweat...seriously dripping but my radiated foob is dry as a bone.  Weird.  Why?  Anyone else?

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited August 2012
    Nope, none here either and it's been 16 years. Radiation must permanently destroy the sweat glands. On the plus side, your anti-perspirant will last twice as long!Wink
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  • amcarter
    amcarter Member Posts: 21
    edited August 2012

    I had a lumpectomy in January, SNB & clearing of margins in March and rads ended May 30th.  I started cycling in July and just noticed last night after biking 16 miles that the irradiated area did not sweat at all and was completely dry and extremely hot.  I was wondering if this was normal, will it always be this way and is there anything I need to do about it?

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited August 2012

    thanks ladies!  This is the only place I know I will get answers to my questions!  Just another thing they don't tell you about.  I really am not impressed with the medical community.

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited August 2012

    I don't really sweat on my chest but since radiation (left side) I no longer sweat from my left underarm. BUT seems as if I sweat twice as much in the right armpit! Also I am pretty odor free on the radiated side but definitely smellier on the right. And I no longer grow hair in my left axilla. Yep, more hair on the right underarm. :(



    Oddly, when I was having rads I asked if they were radiating my armpit. I was told no. Given the present situation I don't see how that is true.



    Weird.

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  • amcarter
    amcarter Member Posts: 21
    edited August 2012

    Well, I called my RO's office yesterday because I can't find much info on this and there's not been a huge response from the forum. Besided I just like to know what's going on.  Anyway, the nurse said she'd never heard of the irradiated area not sweating and when she asked my RO she hadn't either.  They said I could come in if it bothered me or I thought there was an infection (which I don't) but I told them I would wait a while to see if the no sweating during exercise continued.  It just makes sense to me though that rads could damage sweat glands.  Maybe not in all cases, but it seems like my RO would have heard of it even if I do live in a relatively small town. Really kind of surprised that there's only been a few of us who have said this was a problem.

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  • DeborahC
    DeborahC Member Posts: 114
    edited August 2012

    I had radiation 20 years ago and I still barely sweat in the radiated skin (also almost no hair).  Like PJ I find that I now sweat more in other areas (I think this is common).  I was told back then that this would happen, so I think it is a well know side effect (one of the few good ones).

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited August 2012

    When I was having radiation I reported a couple things to my radiologist that I thought were secondary to the radiation tx. I developed a little tickle of a cough, for instance. No matter what I reported, he said it had nothing to do with the radiation therapy. So I just quit mentioning things to him. Of course, a web search confirmed all my suspicions. The little cough started about week two of rads and went away about two weeks after rads ended. :) I really don't understand why they deny knowing about these things.

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  • sunnytn1949
    sunnytn1949 Member Posts: 28
    edited August 2012

    i also had a cough and the radiologist told me it was due to the radiation irritating my throat.  I also do not sweat or have hair under the armpit that was radiated.  I think it is great

    !

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited August 2012

    Yes!  Anything I reported to my rad onc he brushed off and said it wasn't because of rads.  Honestly, I stopped going after I was done.  I found it panic inducing and frustrating.  Well, at least I know I'm not the only one who doesn't sweat on that side anymore!  I find it so sad that I have no medical person to turn to to ask any questions of.  I cannot find a Dr who returns phone calls.  I am seriously thinking of not dealing with anymore follow-up care.  I'm over these Dr's.

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  • Califgirl12
    Califgirl12 Member Posts: 92
    edited September 2012

    Hello Ladies

    I too have noticed all of the above....treated auxiliary and breast has much less hair, and much less perspiration. I also just started noticing that the breast feels heavy and hard in some spots. I do not have much feeling either on the skin. MOM3BAND. I agree with you over frustration with Docs. They always (RAD DR) act like I am crazy when I would mention any new side effects. I don't share much anymore. I just smile a lot and look stupid :). I find all of you ladies much more informative and HONEST. I still go to my follow ups just to check in with them. I really love my surgeon so in order to stay "in the program" I keep all appts. It stinks for sure but what are we to do?



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  • FilterLady
    FilterLady Member Posts: 407
    edited September 2012

    Hi y'all:

    I love the not sweating on the rads side as well as no hair under that arm.  

    I told my RO that I liked the no hair thing and no sweat thing since it'll save on razors and my deoderant will last twice as long, rofl.

    Guess that is one advantage of having rads, lol

    LaDonna

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