Deodorant use

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1

Hello. I had a WLE and single node removed on 3 Jun and had 2 incisions; one on my breast, the other closer to my armpit. I then had emergency surgery on 19 Jun to remove a haematoma from the breast wound. Since then the back of my upper arm and shoulder have been slightly swollen with odaema.

I’ve been doing my arm excercises since diagnosis as advised by my BCNs and have just had 5/10 radio sessions.

The problem I have is that if I don’t use deodorant my armpits really smell, more than they ever did.

I have 2 deodorants. I bought the Fussy brand before surgery thinking it’d be more natural and better for me, but it’s not really working. The only one that is eradicating the smell is my previous Sure (roll on, I won’t use aerosols) but I think that blocks pores?

So my question is, is my body trying to get rid of something via my smelly armpit and therefore is there any harm in me using Sure?

Thank-you

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I’m answering this because I’ve participated in a thread about this before . Some of us felt that our armpits were smellier than before surgery including myself . I wasn’t told that I couldn’t use a conventional deodorant - however I haven’t had the complications that you have had so you may have been given different advice. I did have a second procedure as the first one failed to get it all.

I had been using Sure before surgery but it didn’t seem to work anymore at all. I also tried some of the natural ones which didn’t work and a couple made my armpit sore . Three years later I’m using Dove and it works though I do occasionally use Wild . I did have fat necrosis / oil cyst 3 months after surgery as did one other person so I wondered if that had something to do with it but I don’t know. Also I wondered if my oestrogen blocker might have changed my body chemistry a bit but it persisted after I had stopped that. My gut feeling is that yes its to do with the treatment and your body trying to recover but in my case it wasn’t permanent - so chances are it won’t be for you either. Some people have said that they have found chlorhexidine or tea tree oil body wipes helpful to carry with them plus a handbag sized deodorant to re apply as needed. Xx

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It could also be a side-effect of lower hormones from the blockers most of us end up taking. Ive actually noticed lately that the treatment side has less odour than the other side. Blocked pores or not, it shouldn’t have a bearing on oedema which deodorant you use, and none of them increase cancer risk, so it just comes down to using whatever works best and doesn’t irritate your scar ( though I didnt have a separate incision for it).

4

Thanks both. I should’ve mentioned that my armpits also have a light rash at the front but I’d put that down to my crop tops rubbing, and I’m on Letrozole.

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Hello @JoanneN

After my mastectomy, I changed to Salt of the Earth natural stick deodorant because I didn’t want to irritate the end of my scar. I still use it over 4 years layer. I had been a roll-on type of girl - hate aerosols.

As a deodorant, it doesn’t stop sweat (though I hardly do now in my pits v when I was younger), it sits on the surface of your skin, helping to control the growth of odour-causing bacteria. It’s stopping the growth that stops any smell - no bacteria = no smell.

I can easily go 48 hours without a shower/reapplying - lazy Sundays when I manage to clean teeth and do nothing else after a Saturday shower. I’m still non-pongy to go to the gym 1st thing Monday too!

It appears expensive. It lasts forever. When I found it worked for me, I bought a few - bathoom at home, gym/going away toilet bag and holiday home. Those purchases are still going strong all these years later.

I bought from Holland and Barrett.

Sure is fine - I used on a recent 4 week trip where I had loads of flight and was tight on weight. Didn’t like it much - even the plain one smelt and took a while to dry. Salt of the Earth is applied to wet skin.

I’ve had flu and covid last winter and found, even with high temperatures and being very sweaty, I didn’t smell of BO as I’d expect. There is a bit of a whiff but not unpleasant - more like fermenting (can’t describe probably) but you’re not out and about when you are that poorly!

Hope you find something that works for you.

AnGELa x

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It isn’t a problem anymore - whatever it was worked itself out I do think it may have been caused by medication and possibly having fat necrosis. Dove works well for me - I use the stick one . Wild seems to be ok - the one I bought smells lovely very citrussy and uplifting . Salt of The Earth looks like a crystal one ? I have tried some of those but they all made my armpits sore unfortunately . Xx

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Hi bellalasagne1

Thanks for posting. As you can see from @Gelbel and @JoanneN different products work for different people. As we lock these threads once we reply you may want to continue the conversation in these sections of the forums.

Latest Going through breast cancer treatment topics - Breast Cancer Now forum

Latest Life after a breast cancer diagnosis topics - Breast Cancer Now forum

You maybe interested in our information about skin care and radiotherapy. It includes a link to skin care guidelines from the Royal Society of Radiographers. It mentions deodorants on page 2. You may want to wait for the rash in your armpits to go. You can also mention this to the radiographers just to check in case they may recommend something specific for you to use on this area.

Its unlikely your armpits are trying to get rid of anything other than what comes out with sweat. Some women do notice though that the amount they sweat changes after surgery to the armpit area. And @entropy explains her odour is less on the treatment side.

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Jane

Breast Care Nurse

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