Breast Cancer Now Forum

I finished my radiotherapy in June 2013 and have now got my 3rd case of cording. Always in the same area around my ribs under the left breast where I had a lumpectomy. It starts off feeling very badly bruised for a couple of weeks then I can feel the cording through my skin. I massage it and it eventually disappears. It's a frustration that reminds me that things are still going on that I have no control over. ... View more

Hi Nannalou   I can relate to your cording symptoms, though I see that it turned out not to be cording after all which is great for you.    Over a period of about 10 days I developed a hot pain and swelling from under my left boob along the edge of my rib cage to my abdomen which felt like 2 long straws running parallel to each other under my skin in March this year, 2 years after my lumpectomy in February 2013.  A phone call to my BCN confirmed it was cording, rare in that area but not unheard of. She said there was no point going to my GP as very little is known about cording and advised that massaging the area will help release my lymphatic drainage system which was probably damaged through radiotherapy (I too suffered severe burns) and the likely cause of the cording.   Massaging did help and the swelling went down after a few weeks and I can still feel the 2 cords under my skin but they are not painful and much less evident. I couldn't believe I developed this 2 years on from treatment.   However, Nannalou I am also interested in the fact that you say you developed blood clots in your lungs due to Tamoxifen. I am currently motorhoming around France and whilst here developed the same symptoms as the cording in my chest, but this time from my mid calf to mid thigh on the inside of my left leg. I went to a french GP on Monday this week who suspected blood clots and an urgent referral to a consultant for an ultrasound that same day confirmed 3 clots in that area of my left leg. They have put me on anti-coagulant injections which I have to administer myself for 30 days until I return home end of June and can see my own GP and suggested I stop taking Tamoxifen which I have and to be honest am relieved about if it is causing me blood clots!   I've phoned my BCN in the UK to advise of all this and my oncologist wants to see me when I return to discuss an alternative hormone treatment.   So here I am on holiday in France with all this going on but have to say I'm trying not to let the experience ruin our trip (with hubby and our 2 boxer dogs) and the medical treatment I have received in France has been second to none.   I am now beginning to wonder whether the cording in my chest was actually a blood clot as the symptoms are the same as in my leg and the cording in my chest has shrunk significantly since taking the injections after only 5 days.   Im not sure if this has been of any use to you regarding cording - it seems we have both been diagnosed differently - but would like to know how you dealt with the blood clots in your lungs and Tamoxifen being the cause. Its so good to share experience with each other, I think, and helps me feel less isolated.             ... View more

Hi Ladies,   I am currently on holiday motorhoming through France and started suffering pain and swelling in my left leg from mid calf to mid inner thigh within a week of arriving. A visit to a French GP on Monday this week lead to an urgent referral for an ultrasound that same day and 3 blood clots were found in that area of my leg.  I have been put on anti coagulation injections which I have to administer myself (gross) for 30 days until I return home and they've suggested I stop taking Tamoxifen which is the likely cause. I have called my BCN in the UK to advise of this and my BC wants to see me to discuss alternative hormone therapy as a result and the fact that I am now post menopausal and been taking Tamoxifen for 2 years. I'm glad to be off it if it's causing me clots! In addition I suffer from hot sweats, joint pain and indigestion, but not sure whether I relish the thought of taking any drug given the hideous side effects. Hey ho ... ... View more

Finally went to gp in France and referred urgently for ultrasound. Diagnosed with blood clots and have to inject myself everyday with anti coagulant and advised to come off tamoxifen . ... View more

Hi Jane and Deb, Saw your posts so thought I'd drop in and say hello. So pleased you are getting through rads as you are Jane, with just one more week to go. It'll soon all be behind you, me and Deb still have that joy to come! I met my Oncologist this week and he confirmed 15 rads sessions required. I'm going for the CT scan, measure up and 2 tattoos on Monday (15/4) but the treatment doesn't start until 2 May until 23 May so everything feels really long-winded to me at the moment. Not that I'm complaining, I'm grateful to be on the road to recovery and in such good hands. Just impatient, wanting to get my life back on track rather than it being a series of hospital appointments. I'm now on day 16 for Tamoxifen and so far no SEs but it's still early days I know. How are you getting on with it Jane? Now that I have had my rads dates confirmed, we are going to Ullswater on Tuesday in our motorhome for a few days. Can't wait, we were supposed to be going to Italy next week so have delayed that trip until August. And I'm fancying a cruise to the Norweigian fjiords in June as a treat to look forward to. I hope all is well with you Deb - we'll probably be having our rads at the same time. I am being treated at Castle Hill, Cottingham by the way. Take care all and have a lovely weekend - it's great to see the sun shining today Julie xxx ... View more

Hi Moonbeam, Thanks for your lovely response and reassurance, including the bit on Tamoxifen. Sounds like you've had a lot of treatment one way and another - I hope it's all going well for you. Your 'expletive' really made me laugh. I know exactly how you feel. Julie ... View more

Hi Ladies, I am interested in your experience and comments on this thread as am due to start rads soon following a WLE and SNB on 28 Feb. I have an appt with the Onc on Wednesday 10 April which I guess will be just a chat about the procedure, mitigation of potential SEs and how many sessions I will be having which my BC has already said is likely to be 15. I still cant believe I have (had hopefully) cancer and everything's all happened so quickly since my diagnosis a few weeks ago. I've coped well with the surgery, am now on Tamoxifen - 11 days in and waiting for the hot flushes and pains to kick in! - and thought the rads bit would be ok, simply the next stage to get through. But now my appointment is getting closer, I'm starting to feel anxious. Like you said Katy, people who are just finding out that I am being treated for BC cannot believe it as they say I look so well and am just getting on with life as normally as I can. But every now and again, especially when a procedure or result is imminent I start to wobble......................... Hugs to all Julie xx ... View more

Hi ladies, Sorry to keep you in suspense about my results but I received great news yesterday - my surgeon confirmed that all the cancer has been successfully removed along with 1cm tissue, all clear and no nodes affected I was so relieved I burst into tears, just overwhelmed and exhausted. So now it's Tamoxifen (pick up the prescription tomorrow) and an appointment with the Onc to discuss rads on 10 April. My 4 lovely cousins took me out to celebrate last night and we had lashings of bubbly I kid you not! Tweetypie, I never had a great deal of discomfort after my op and didn't need painkillers (paracetomol) after a couple of days but I do still feel sore on the scar under my arm one month on and have developed cording about 4" long. It's not painful and I still have full movement of my arm and am doing my exercises religiously every day. My surgeon wasn't concerned about it when he examined me yesterday, I am hoping it will just go away. I think time is the best healer, my hard scar tissue on my breast seems to be disappearing slowly - I didn't like the feel of that at all, and I also hated the numbness in my armpit but that's coming back now as well. I'm not sure if this has been of any help to you at all, but things should improve a little more each day. Jane I hope your rads treatment is still going well for you now that you're a few days in and that your seroma is starting to heal. And Deb, sounds like you're still recovering well and loving having the time off work - make the most of it . Love to all - here's to another week of great progress, and hopefully a nice Easter Egg or two at the end of it. Mine's a Thorntons Strawberry Trifle one would you believe? Julie xxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Gosh there's so much going on with us all isn't there! Tweetypie - I'm pleased you're home now and love the fact that you are going to spoil yourself! Good for you. Hope it involves lots of chocolate (wine gums in my case - I'm addicted), wine and retail therapy. Jane, sounds like you're having a rough time at the moment - it all seems so unfair and undeserved. Sharing how you felt during your first rads session had a real impact, I feel as though I'm going through it with you. It's good being able to share experience and emotions on here, despite the fact we'd all rather be discussing other, lighthearted topics no doubt. Deb, hope your appointment to have your dressings removed went ok. Love to all, have a great weekend. Julie xx ... View more

OMG How fantastic is that!! You must be so relieved. You've had a terrific service from your hospital to get your results as quickly as that. I'm really happy for you Deb and hoping I get the same news on Monday. Love Julie xx ... View more

Hi there, Just wanting to wish you well for tomorrow Deb, a big day for you, dressings off and results. Also to you Tweetiepie, hopefully you will have had your surgery now and be on the road to recovery. And best wishes to you too Jane, your first Rads treatment today. What a week! I'm thinking of you all and can't wait to hear your news. Fingers crossed it's all good .............. Love Julie xxx ... View more

Hi Deb Wow results Thursday! Do you mean this week? That's good for you to not have to wait so long. I'll be thinking about you. Yes the photo is of my handsome boxer dog (actually it's me before my surgery lol). Here's to a positive pain-free week for all of us ............... Julie xx ... View more