I have used razor blades to shave my face my whole life, I never liked electric razors, I have very soft skin. During my chemo orientation, they suggested that I shave with an electric razor due to the risks associated with nicks from blades.
So I just started using an electric Razor, but I think that will be tough on my soft skin once the rads effects kick in.
Has anyone been in this dilemma?
Not sure whether I should go back to using blades. I've just started my treatment, still almost 6 weeks to go.

CM57,

I used razor blades too, but one time, before cancer, I had an infected abcess, I had surgically removed, from a used razor I kept in the shower too long, so after that I only used new razors each use. In the early weeks of radiation, I used a razor, but soon I didn't need to shave at all as I had radiation bi-laterally, and for a while after that. Check with your doctor as they may say not to shave even with an electric razor or its timing? Somewhere along the line, I started using an electric razor to shave, and still do, but only when I go out formally. No more cuts, infections or other issues from shaving with a hand razor.

I hope this helps!

Thanks Paul. I spoke with the nurse in Radiation today, she advised me to either use the electric razor, or don't shave, as I will probably lose my facial hair in a few weeks.
So I can't stand the stubble, the radiation mask hurts enough as is, I'll stick with the electric razor unless it becomes an issue.

I found it better to just tough out the stubble until the hair began to vanish on its own. Shaving was painful and unpleasant and after awhile the least of my concerns. Then after it was all over, between the sensitive skin from the rads and the scar tissue et al from the surgery, I just left the beard (such as it is) and have been wearing it ever since: 9 years later. The thought of shaving now fills me with dread.

Yeah, I think the shaving is done for awhile. I had decided to use the electric razor, but a few days ago, I was shaving my neck and it was like a skin exfoliation.
That was after about 22 rad treatments.

Well you lasted a lot longer than I did, CM. Congrats. How many more sessions until it's all over?

1 last chemo tomorrow, of 7 weekly Cisplatin chemos.
And 4 radiation treatments, which seems daunting, as all the bad radation symptoms, hit me hard over the 3 day weekend. I don't have a feeding tube.
They gave me 1000ML of hydration today, and upped my Fentanyl patch dose.

It hits bad near the end, and the rads keep working for a while even after the official treatment is over. But then it will start to get better. You've made it farther than most, for sure. (Not that it's a contest, just letting you know.) If it's really awful, sometimes they'll let you off the hook for the last treatment or so. That's between you and your doctor and your numbers. But don't be afraid to ask, if you have to. ((hugs))

Yes, we discussed the last treatments.
Both Oncologists would like me to finish out everything as scheduled, especially the Radiation Oncologist.
He mentioned a statistic, which I fully don't remember now.
He said something to the effect, that for each missed prescribed radiation treatment, your odds of complete remission, goes down 0.6 or 1.6 per missed treatment.
Does anyone have a link to that statistic?
(As I stated, I may not have written it correctly, but it's in the ballpark of what he said).

Yes, I read the survival rate goes down about 1.6% for every treatment day missed. I think I mentioned it here a number of years ago, and further read from another source, it’s after missing about five consecutive days. I know they have you make up missed days at the end of treatment or by going in for a 6th day or having double treatments, which I’ve done, but not sure how that really works out. I don’t think i have the written article or where I obtained the soutce of info from.

Good luck