1. < Breast Cancer

Lymphedema in the chest wall

Posted by katrina123 @katrina123, Sep 2, 2020

I just got back from my oncologists office and I found out that I have lymphedema in my chest wall. I was surprised because I had always thought that breast radiation lymphedema was only in your arm. I will be starting physical therapy shortly.

I was just wondering if any of you have had this and I was curious as to what your symptoms were and what treatment was used to get rid of it. I would really like to hear from anyone who has gone through this.
Thanks
Katrina123

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mlk | @mlk | Sep 9, 2020
In reply to @trixie1313 "@mlk9 I keep telling my family it feels like a chunk of cement. On top of..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@mlk9
I keep telling my family it feels like a chunk of cement. On top of that I have axillary webbing (cording) three times now. Finishing up with my physical therapist who suggested I get back to wearing the swell spot under my compression bra. What a difference that has made in that "cement" area as well as axillary webbing. She explained the radiation causes scarring which presses on lymphatics which causes the axillary webbing and/or lymphedema. The numbness in my arm has gone down and the "cement" area in my breast has softened up. She explained the swell spot helps the lymph system flow out. Here is a site that shows what it looks like, but the can be purchased anywhere (with my medical plan, they are covered): https://www.amazon.com/SwellSpots-Breast-Swell-Spot-Small/dp/B07QV9KRYB/ref=sr_1_7

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Thanks Trixie I had a MRI with contrast today just to see how big that cement block is but I'm probably going back to lymphedema therapy and I hope to be fitted for a massage jacket pump

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katrina123 | @katrina123 | Oct 25, 2020

Update: I saw the Lymphedema physical therapy specialist and she said she did not think that I had Lymphedema. Maybe I misunderstood my oncologist and she meant that she was concerned that I might have Lymphedema. Anyway I still have a lot of pain in my chest. The exercises that I was given do seem to help a little. I had a telephone appointment with my Radiation Oncologist and she thought maybe I had some cording. It has been 6 months since the radiation treatments and I am still having some very sharp nerve like pains. I hope that this goes away soon. I was just wondering if anyone else had this pain continue long after radiation therapy?
katrina123

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2 replies
Mentor
Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Oct 25, 2020
In reply to @katrina123 "Update: I saw the Lymphedema physical therapy specialist and she said she did not think that..." + (show)
@katrina123

Update: I saw the Lymphedema physical therapy specialist and she said she did not think that I had Lymphedema. Maybe I misunderstood my oncologist and she meant that she was concerned that I might have Lymphedema. Anyway I still have a lot of pain in my chest. The exercises that I was given do seem to help a little. I had a telephone appointment with my Radiation Oncologist and she thought maybe I had some cording. It has been 6 months since the radiation treatments and I am still having some very sharp nerve like pains. I hope that this goes away soon. I was just wondering if anyone else had this pain continue long after radiation therapy?
katrina123

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I have cording in my armpit from surgery and radiation over a year ago. It is better then 6 months ago, but I do not have the pain you described. Mine is more of a stiffness when I do exercise that involve raising my arms above head.

Here is additional info on cording:
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws#:~:text=Fortunately%2C%20cording%20usually%20resolves%20for,and%20then%20come%20back%20later.

Also, here is link to a discussion on cording on Mayo Connect:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cording-axillary-web-syndrome-aws/

Laurie

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1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 26, 2020
In reply to @katrina123 "Update: I saw the Lymphedema physical therapy specialist and she said she did not think that..." + (show)
@katrina123

Update: I saw the Lymphedema physical therapy specialist and she said she did not think that I had Lymphedema. Maybe I misunderstood my oncologist and she meant that she was concerned that I might have Lymphedema. Anyway I still have a lot of pain in my chest. The exercises that I was given do seem to help a little. I had a telephone appointment with my Radiation Oncologist and she thought maybe I had some cording. It has been 6 months since the radiation treatments and I am still having some very sharp nerve like pains. I hope that this goes away soon. I was just wondering if anyone else had this pain continue long after radiation therapy?
katrina123

Jump to this post

@katrina123, @jeaniebean
I've had axial webbing (cording) and very painful breast scarring (feels like chunks of cement) from radiation, both of which the physical therapist received an order from my physician for a "swell spot" which is worn underneath my compression bra. I have had much improvement by using this and the area seems to have softened up quite a bit. Part of my problem the PT thought causing the cording was the scarring in the breast from the radiation was pushing on the nerve as well as the lymph vein which also caused numbness in my forearm and hand. Here is just one site that carries these so you can see what they look like: https://lymphedemastore.com/swell-spot-breast/

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1 reply
katrina123 | @katrina123 | Oct 27, 2020
In reply to @roch "I have cording in my armpit from surgery and radiation over a year ago. It is..." + (show)
@roch

I have cording in my armpit from surgery and radiation over a year ago. It is better then 6 months ago, but I do not have the pain you described. Mine is more of a stiffness when I do exercise that involve raising my arms above head.

Here is additional info on cording:
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws#:~:text=Fortunately%2C%20cording%20usually%20resolves%20for,and%20then%20come%20back%20later.

Also, here is link to a discussion on cording on Mayo Connect:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cording-axillary-web-syndrome-aws/

Laurie

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Laurie,
Thank you for your telling me about your experiences. It is good to be able to communicate with others who have gone through similar experiences. Also, thanks for web sites.
katrina123

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katrina123 | @katrina123 | Oct 27, 2020
In reply to @trixie1313 "@katrina123, @jeaniebean I've had axial webbing (cording) and very painful breast scarring (feels like chunks of..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@katrina123, @jeaniebean
I've had axial webbing (cording) and very painful breast scarring (feels like chunks of cement) from radiation, both of which the physical therapist received an order from my physician for a "swell spot" which is worn underneath my compression bra. I have had much improvement by using this and the area seems to have softened up quite a bit. Part of my problem the PT thought causing the cording was the scarring in the breast from the radiation was pushing on the nerve as well as the lymph vein which also caused numbness in my forearm and hand. Here is just one site that carries these so you can see what they look like: https://lymphedemastore.com/swell-spot-breast/

Jump to this post

trixie1313
I also have hard areas in my breast. My breasts were already extremely dense and now I wonder how I could ever feel a lump if the cancer comes back. I only went to 2 physical therapy sessions because I was concerned with being in a small room for 60 minutes with the therapist in the middle of a pandemic. We both wore masks but it still concerned me. ( I am 74 with a primary immune disease.) I am doing the exercises she gave me a couple of times a day but it is still painful.
Thank you so much for the site information.
katrina123

REPLY
1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Oct 27, 2020
In reply to @katrina123 "trixie1313 I also have hard areas in my breast. My breasts were already extremely dense and..." + (show)
@katrina123

trixie1313
I also have hard areas in my breast. My breasts were already extremely dense and now I wonder how I could ever feel a lump if the cancer comes back. I only went to 2 physical therapy sessions because I was concerned with being in a small room for 60 minutes with the therapist in the middle of a pandemic. We both wore masks but it still concerned me. ( I am 74 with a primary immune disease.) I am doing the exercises she gave me a couple of times a day but it is still painful.
Thank you so much for the site information.
katrina123

Jump to this post

@katrina123
I'm 69 and have lung issues in addition to cancer so can understand your concern of going in to the physical therapist, but with both of you wearing masks you should be fine. I had also been concerned due to dense breasts and missing anything else and after first lumpectomy asked for an MRI of the breasts because I was concerned there could be something going on in the other breast and the surgeon approved this. I'm glad I did because that is where they found a very small second lesion in the same breast in a different location which was found to be neuroendocrine cancer which very rarely shows up in the breast. My regular doctor and oncologist would not order the breast MRI, it was only when I spoke to the breast surgeon that she felt is was fine to go ahead.

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