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Deodorant Not Working After Mastectomy?

A MyBCTeam Member asked a question 💭
Newport Coast, CA

Did anybody notice after having their mastectomy that their deodorant doesn't work any more? I asked my surgeon about it and she said several of her patients had told her the same thing but she did not have an answer as to why. Any ideas? Any recommendations?

January 25, 2015 (edited)
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A MyBCTeam Member

I stopped using regular Deoderant after my Dx. Now post BMX I use a wonderful organic poweder that is made here in my town by Poofy Organics. (my friend actually works there!) They make organic Deo's too but once I moved to the powder, i find it lasts longer. I have been using the same powder since last summer. Still half full. Its expensive but to get a year out of it for $14 is not really that bad. If you have a WholeFoods by you they carry this brand too. https://poofyorganics.com/MemberToolsDotNet/Sho...

January 25, 2015
A MyBCTeam Member

I had the same issue. It seemed worse on the side that the lymph nodes were taken out on. What I found that helped was rubbing some baking soda under my arms. I'm almost a year out and the problem has definitely gotten better. Hang in there!

January 25, 2015
A MyBCTeam Member

Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.

January 27, 2015
A MyBCTeam Member

I was told no aluminum deodorants by my oncologist. I switched to Tom's, however it's not doing the job. I do notice it's worse on the side where my cancer was and lymph nodes removed. My step daughter is sending me some deodorant with essential oils that she makes. I looked on the cancer site about the oils and found that lavender and tree oil is not recommended for estrogen positive breast cancer patients. So I asked her to omit those. I'm anxious to see how it works.
I also bought for my travel bag a stone that's suppose be natural that seems to work well. I recently noticed it has aluminum in it :(.

January 25, 2015
A MyBCTeam Member

I heard many years ago that we should not wear deodorant because it "causes cancer." Been meaning to ask my doctor about it but haven't. Have stopped wearing it though until I get an answer.

January 31, 2015

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