Hi
Over a year ago I had bilateral sentinel node biopsies for breast cancer which thankfully showed no cancer in the nodes. I was advised to use an electric razor to avoid any cuts which a normal razor might produce.
I did my research and bought a Philips electric razor which seemed ok, but not as good as a normal razor.
A year in it isn’t doing the job, so I bought a new head for the razor online.
Oh wow, it has caused cuts and I’m also left with red angry looking armpits! I’m furious. And also worried - I’ve put Savlon on but wonder if I can do anything else to prevent lymphoedema?
I’m flying abroad for my daughter’s wedding next week and hoping this won’t somehow cause problems.
Any advice please?
Thank you.
Hi there. I’ve had a sentinel node removed and I also had a axillary clearance as the sentinel was positive. No-one ever said I couldnt shave my arm pits and I have been shaving them from a few days after surgery. If you only had a slnd, then I think the risk of lymphodema is low as you still ìhave vast majority of your lymph nodes. Keep active and you should be okay xxx
I had a similar experience when I tried an electric razor the first couple of times - I think I probably did better with an ordinary razor but like you was advised to change . I ended up putting alcohol gel on because I was so afraid I would end up with infection and wow that stung . I’ve since learned to gently float the shaver over my affected pit and sometimes there’s a little stubble remaining there but better than catching it again. I didn’t get an infection or any lymphoedema .
As you’re going away it might be worth asking for some prophylactic antibiotics that you can take in case it doesn’t start to clear up. I was given a card to carry to say that I had had lymph nodes surgery and there’s an increased risk of infection so there should be a lie threshold for starting antibiotics .
I would also recommend washing your pits with something very gentle and unperfumed and drying with a microfibre towel which I have found to be gentle if you’re sore. I washed my deodorant off at night a couple of times and put Aveeno on over igbt to help the redness heal .
Best wishes for your daughter’s wedding xx
Hi @sunlover100 had similar advised not to use razor , only electric which doesn’t as you say get very close I use Aloe Vera gel after no strong deodorant as it’s been over a year found cream works 
if you do think it’s infected speak to GP for antibiotics as you have your daughters wedding soon x
Thank you all so much for your replies and good advice. I will keep and eye out for any infection and maybe ask GP for antibiotics to take with me just in case. Good idea. Hard to know what’s best going forwards, before having surgery I never had any cuts with my Venus razor.
Yes I totally get you there and I sometimes wonder if I might be better going back to my Venus xx
Hi sun lover
I had 10 lymph glands removed 24 yrs ago .
I was told not to shave ,so have always had them waxed.
They are very sparse now .
Had mild lymphoedema ,had to have a blemish removed on my arm ,made it a bit more of a problem .
But manage it well.
Ouch! That sounds nasty. I was advised not to shave so I use a removal cream which seems gentle on the skin.
What kind ? I’ve had mixed experience with depilatory creams and I really don’t fancy having them waxed .
It’s Nair sensitive. Cheap, widely available and lasts ages. It says to do a small patch test first.
Hi
Was never advised to stop using blade razors and so have just continued with my Venus bog standard disposables. I am numb in both armpits so I make sure I go slowly, carefully and judge visually how hard the head is pushing against the skin. A small nick would not cause lymphoedema. A full axillary clearance did that for me because of loss of all nodes and the inevitable severing of lymph vessels / channels. It’s an intricate system and will cope as long as some channels remain in tact. 
If you are using a dry electric shaver put talc in you armpit. Shaver glides and you wont get any nicks.
Take an antibiotic on holidays with you in case it gets infected or you get an insect bite on that arm.
Rainy day, thanks for the tips - hadn’t thought of talc, and true about antibiotics for insect bites.
RainyDay7 - I took your advice and contacted GP this morning to ask about taking antibiotics abroad, and was told that they don’t do ‘just in case’ prescriptions! So fingers crossed won’t need to find a doctor abroad, but it’s settling down ok so looking ok.
Hello sunlover100
Thanks for posting. It looks like you’ve had helpful responses over the weekend.
After surgery to the lymph nodes in the armpit women are often recommended to use electric razors or hair removing creams for the reason you mention.
As your armpits are cut, red and angry looking it would be important to speak to your GP or treatment team. You explain you’ll keep an eye on it for signs of infection, but you may need antibiotics to treat the area or reduce the risk of an infection developing before you go away. Also treating potential infections promptly can help reduce the risk of lymphoedema. As @bluesatsuma says this risk is less with a sentinel lymph node removal.
Here is our information about travel and cancer which may be of some help
Hopefully your symptoms will ease soon and won’t cause any problems for you on your daughter’s wedding day.
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