Scars, cording & swelling: recovery after breast cancer surgery - a webinar
Here is a webinar on scars, cording (usually in the armpit) & swelling, post op - and some exercises to help recover range of movement from cording. I haven't watched all of it - but it looks good. https://counterpart.org.au/information/past-webinars/scars-cording-swelling-recovery-after-breast-cancer-surgery/ Lots of other webinars here to check out too :smile: https://counterpart.org.au/information/past-webinars/
There and Back Again
Hi All. Swings and Roundabouts. The lumpectomy was almost a month ago. Two weeks ago I went back down to Perth for the results. Good news - the 2 lymph nodes removed were clear. So no radiation treatment. Bad news - The wide margin wasn’t wide enough. There is still a couple of mm of cancerous tissue left. I’m small breasted so there is not enough breast tissue left to do a second breast conservation. So I’m booked in for a mastectomy this week. I fly back down Tuesday evening for surgery Wednesday morning. Will stay down there 10 days so I don’t have to travel there and back with the drain. On the 2nd of October I see the surgeon to have the drain removed and find out if I require chemo on top of the endocrine treatment. I’m sick of travelling. I’m sick of having new things to manage : I’ve developed cording in my left armpit. In the short space of 6 weeks I’ve gone from being very fit and healthy to worrying about getting scratches on my arm. I was sick as a dog for 12 hours after surgery. So not looking forward to recovery on Wednesday. Very up and down the past week or so waiting for the next surgery. Trying my best not to get too low but grrr. Would give anything to smash plates and scream xxx.
Cording 7 months post surgery?
Morn all, I had cording in my arm during RT, had physio and all ok after it snapped. I’m not 7 months post surgery. The past week I have noticed my arm being tight, yesterday morn I put my arm up in the mirror and saw the cord from my breast almost down to my belly button. I managed to snap it. This morn there is a small bruise at the top of the cord, I could still see it and managed to snap it again 😩 Its a little sore. Do I need to see someone? What can I do apart from stretching and massaging to manage this better? Is it normal to have cording downwards? I thought it would only form in your arm.
Need suggestions for instant relief from cording
Please help. Got some small cuts on my hand. Got lymphedema - wore my compression sleeve and glove and that improved. But now got cording which is the worst it has ever been - very painful, runs down to wrist. I've been trying to raise my arm above my head to stretch it. Don't have strength to keep up massaging it myself. My Lymphedema specialist is on holidays. What else can I try? I really have had enough. Need something that will work quickly. Thanks
cording and lymphedema
Hi all This wretched disease...I finished rads in Feb and a couple of months later, noticed my breast was hard, and the movement in my arm was a little restricted - I can't straighten it fully above my head. The rad onc said the hardness is not unusual, and my breast would soften. I've been going to a physio for the past few months with not much improvement, so yesterday went to a lymphedema physio. She's found cording in my arm, and lymphedema at the bottom of my breast. We've started treatment and my breast is softer and I feel somewhat better. I had Stage 1 BC and only 5 lymph nodes removed. Straight after treatment I was advised to go to the lymphedema education session, but told that my chances of getting it were extremely small - so going to the education session was optional. I know this is bad luck, but I can't help but feel depressed. Surgery was in Nov, and I'm still battling the after effects. On the upside, I'm taking Tamoxifen, and while it initially made my hair thin, this has stopped and I don't have any side effects. What a huge pain in the bum all of this is... Rose
Cording
Hi i have cording in my armpit. I had a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP and complete axillary clearance 2.5 weeks ago. Can you go to any physio for cording? I went to my usual physio yesterday and he worked on my shoulder (he could feel it was very tight) but he stayed away from working on the corded bit. What should a physio do? What expertise/background experience should I look for in a physio? I know there are physios for lymphoedema but the one I have been referred to is not available until the 21st May. thanks
Starting radiation
Well, I’ve had my coaching session with the deep breathing. Not as scary as I thought, and I’m sure I’ll get better at it. Today I had my planning session, so start on 10th April. My cording has moved diwn my arm closer to my elbow so physio came and saw me as well. I’ve also joined a heart health trial for those with left side radiation. Having an mri and ultrasound of my heart on Sunday, then another six months after radiation finishes. Also got my treatment nurse. I had a breast care nurse for before and during surgery, now get another one for rads. Just love this hospital. If you have to have this rotten thing, at least everyone around you is friendly and helpful.
Is this cording?
Hi everyone - I have 5 taxols to go but I don’t think this is chemo related. When I straighten my lymph-nodeless arm, it’s sore around the inside of my elbow and just below there. It feels very tight. Like there’s an elastic band in there that’s being pulled too tight. I’ve felt this before but only intermittently. Now it’s there every time I straighten my arm. Does this sound like cording? And if it is, what can i do about it? Thanks! Xx
