I love my rad doc (her own shortcut for radiation doctor)!  I meet with her once a week for a check-up, so yesterday we had a discussion about my issues I mentioned in yesterday's blog.  She told me I could use something like Cortaid for the heat rash, and said it would be okay to use my regular deodorant but that I'd need to be very careful about keeping it way above my incision areas.  Just knowing that made me feel better, and I've decided it isn't worth risking.  I'll continue my routine with the "natural" deodorant under the one arm for these last few weeks.  I'm learning through this process that I can handle more than I thought when I know it won't last forever!

I got a helpful e-mail from Teresa yesterday about my b.o. blog:

"Kaedy, I am an eight year breast cancer survivor.  I do know what you mean about being stinky.  My radiation appointments were in the morning.  I would take a shower just before I went to radiation.  I was told not to use deodorant before treatment.  I know I smelled because I was always a little nervous.  I had to wait an hour after treatment to take a shower.  I really wanted to take one when the treatment was over.  I could use deodorant then.  I got heat rash, too.  I was told to use hydrocortisone cream on it and take benadryl for the itching. 

Hang in there.  Radiation seems like forever.  You can expect to feel tired.  Do not be afraid to ask for help---sometimes just trying to buy groceries or doing chores at home wiped me out.  Radiaton is no picnic, but it will be alright.  Never be afraid to ask your doctor questions.  You will get all kinds of advice, you probably already have.  Do what your doctor says.  Everyone's cancer and body is different. You just have to listen to the well meaning people who say "so and so had cancer and they did this and that" then you smile and say "I will ask my doctor, I am doing what he/she tells me"."

Teresa's last point is so important -- no matter what I (or anyone else) might tell you, you need to work closely with your doctors.  If you don't like what they say get a second opinion, but you've got to trust your doctor and your knowledge of your own body.