Théberge, V., Harel, F., & Dagnault, A. (2009). Use of axillary deodorant and effect on acute skin toxicity during radiotherapy for breast cancer: A prospective randomized noninferiority trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 75, 1048–1052.

To determine effect of deodorant use on acute skin toxicity and quality of life during radiation therapy

Patients were randomly assigned to the deodorant group or the no-deodorant group. Prior to randomization, participants were stratified by presence of axillary radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The deodorant group was instructed to use the product daily during radiation therapy. Only deodorant without aluminum was permitted. Deodorant use stopped only if grade 3 or greater radiodermatitis was evident.

• The sample was comprised of 84 female patients with breast cancer (stages 0–3. 
• Mean age was 59.9 years (SD = 10.6 years) in the deodorant group and 58.8 years (SD = 10.0 years) in the no-deodorant group.

The study took place at the Hotel-Dieu de Quebec Centre at Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec in Quebec, Canada.

The study used a randomized, blinded trial design.

• Patients were evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group acute skin toxicity criteria.
• During each visit, a photo of axilla was taken and patients completed questionnaires to evaluate symptoms.
• To evaluate pain and pruritus, the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0 was used.
• Sweating and discomfort were evaluated with an in-house scale.
• Quality of life was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

In the deodorant versus the no-deodorant group, grade 2 axillary radiodermatitis occurred in 22.5% versus 29.5%, respectively (p = 0.019). Axillary moist desquamation was 10.0% versus 18.2% in the deodorant versus no-deodorant group, respectively (p = 0.003). Grade 2 breast radiodermatitis occurred in 30% versus 34.1% of the deodorant versus the no-deodorant group, respectively (p = 0.049). No grade 3 or 4 toxicity radiodermatitis was observed. Discomfort to axilla was 15% versus 25% in the deodorant and the no-deodorant group, respectively (p = 0.004). Moderate-to-severe pain was reported by 22.5% of the deodorant and 27.3% of the no-deodorant group (p = 0.031), Pain to the axilla region was seen in 7.5% versus 13.6% of the deodorant versus the no-deodorant group, respectively (p = 0.002). Axillary pruritus was self-reported by 7.5% and 20.5% of patients in the deodorant and the no-deodorant groups, respectively (p = 0.0002) . Breast pruritus was reported in a greater proportion of patients in deodorant (75%) than no-deodorant group (50%) (p = 0.19).

No evidence was found to prohibit deodorant use (without aluminum) during radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Findings were only for deodorants that did not contain aluminum, and it is not known if there would be any differences with different types of deodorant used.