Lewis, L., Carson, S., Bydder, S., Athifa, M., Williams, A.M., & Bremner, A. (2014). Evaluating the effects of aluminum-containing and non-aluminum containing deodorants on axillary skin toxicity during radiation therapy for breast cancer: A 3-armed randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 90, 765–771. 

To evaluate the effects of aluminum- and nonaluminum-containing deodorants

Patients were randomly assigned to use (a) just soap and water, (b) nonaluminum-containing deodorant and soap and water, or (c) aluminum-containing deodorant and soap and water. Low irritant soap was provided to study participants for use, as were both deodorants. The axilla of the breast or chest wall undergoing radiation was assessed weekly. One month after completion of treatment, patients were interviewed to assess their compliance with the treatment assignment.

• N = 285
• MEAN AGE = 55.67 years
• AGE RANGE = 31–88
• FEMALES: 100%
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: All had breast cancer.
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: A little more than one-third were obese with a high body mass index. The majority received at least 50 Gy in 25–28 fractions.

• SITE: Single site  
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient  
• LOCATION: Australia

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Randomized, controlled, three-arm trial

• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) skin toxicity scale
• European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLC-30)
• Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) for underarm sweating
• Visual analog scale (VAS) for assessment of itch, pain, and burning sensation

There were no skin toxicities at two weeks, and at four weeks, less than 5% in all groups had at least grade 2 skin toxicity. At seven weeks, 66.7% of 12 remaining aluminum-containing users, 80% of the remaining 10 nonaluminum-containing deodorant users, and 58.8% of the 17 remaining controls had at least grade 2 toxicity. There was no statistically significant difference in axillary skin toxicity associated with study group, and there were no significant differences among groups in pain, itch, or burning sensation.

This study found no evidence that aluminum- or nonaluminum-containing deodorant use had an adverse effect on axillary skin toxicity during radiation therapy.

• Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results
• Subject withdrawals ≥ 10%
• On follow-up evaluation for compliance, it was found that many patients also used sorbolene cream during treatment.
• One specific brand of deodorant and soap were used, so results may not apply to all available brands.

This study demonstrated that the use of deodorants, including aluminum-containing deodorant, did not adversely effect skin reactions during radiation therapy for breast cancer. Nurses can educate patients that they do not need to avoid using such deodorants during radiation therapy.