Just one sentinel node removed, and, as if it wasn’t enough to snap a cord on my ribs around xmas time ( I did a post about it), I now have another one in the depths of my armpit. It doesn’t stop me doing full movement, just aware of an achey twinge when I do give it some welly with my arm. Realised that if I relax my arm down and give my pit a deep massage with my fingers , I can literally feel a cord - its quite grim . No matter how far I stretch, it doesnt seem to be under enough tension that it will snap, maybe as I do the rowing machine and other regular streches its not become restictive? But I know its there, so I want it gone. Trying to get over the ick factor and massage the hell oit of it, but it feels pretty defined and thick to hope it will succumb (ew!). Any ideas? - I’m contemplating my son’s massage gun put on full blast - that’s pretty powerful and has a heat functon too.
Feels like trying to massage a tendon away.
Pretty disappointing when most things I’ve read say it happens more with a lymph node clearance. I’m wondering if its to do with having had a cavity shave in the outer quadrant area when they were trying to get a full clearance of surrounding DCIS ( the shave showed no cells, but they took a cm to be sure)? Or having extra boosts of radiotherapy, so 19 in total?
Anyone had similar after an outer quadrant lateral cavity shave? - the terms we learn, that we never knew existed. I’m still not 100% on what a cavity shave is, but sounds like it could do some long term damage.cording
Yes similar to you. SLNB which came back clear, but needed cavity shave for high grade DCIS around IDC.
I’ve been doing stretching arm exercises, not consistant by any means. I do feel a bit of tightness under the arm, but it happens to be along the scar. I’m assuming it’s the scar tissue as opposed to cording. But am conscious to keep an eye on it.
The thought of cording, makes me feel queasy!
I had bilateral lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy so told I was very low risk of cording. I complained about pains in both arms and at the time restricted movement, physio said it was nerve issues. Luckily the nerve flossing help with cording aswell. Saw a cancer physio who diagnosed the cording back in November and I thought I was on top of it. Now it’s happening again. I have good movement now but the pain is annoying to make matters worse it’s the inside of my arm as it brushes my chest.
Nobody really knows the cause but it’s only related to breast surgery. I have to massage daily from the edge of the cord upwards and then across the cord like playing a guitar. It’s quite painful and need pain killers afterwards. I still do many of my post surgery stretches.
It’s a shame that they say it’s only those who have a clearance but it’s not anyone is at risk like lymphoedema.
This has been really helpful Jen McKenzie the Breast Cancer Physio
Thanks for the info. Sorry it gives you pain, I’m lucky in that its not painful as such, just more annoying. Feels better after massage. Seems like you get rid of one, for another to turn up weeks or months later.
I dont have a scar under my arm, somehow, they managed to get to the sentinel node via the 1 scar a couple of cm above my areola. The tumour was at 12’o’ clock, I guess the DCIS was heading towards the armpit from there.
Ask to be referred to an NHS physio who’s been trained on cording. They fixed mine very quickly, it was pretty amazing, 90% relief after the first visit and only one follow up. I think I had six cords in my armpit, elbow and even a few under my breast area in my abdomen. They seemed shocked at the extent of it but set to work and sorted it!
After SNLB and WLE I was left with one quite strong cord running from armpit into my breast. I massaged but also went back to my boxing class, it was this movement which I think helped to break it up. It wasn’t ever sore just felt strange.