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• Cate

  

  • 3 posts
  January 8, 2014 1:15:48 PM WATime

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  Hi, posted a while ago re nerve? pain 5 years post op... Also have a lump?? in armpit but the oncologist  had had a good feel etc & says its cording which is what is causing a little bit of discomfort.. The lump now emits a most burning pain radiating down my arm & back over my chest if I feel it to see if its changed.. Is this a normal thing or should I be back off to the oncologist or breast surgeon...

   

   

   

  This post was edited by Cate at January 8, 2014 1:15:48 PM WATime"

  49yo mother of 3 grown boys, married 27 years.. 2008 grade 1, 8mm, IDC, sentinal node clear, DCIS along 1 margin despite wider excision. Mastectomy & DIEP Flap, tamoxifen, no chemo..

• Ness

  

  • 81 posts
  January 8, 2014 6:58:13 PM WATime

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  Hi Cate - I am not the best person to tell you if this is normal but I can say that whenever you are concerned about pains or anything happening you should at least see your GP or talk to a breast care nurse about your problems. Hopefully Glenys will have more advice on this one for you! Hope it is resolved soon for you x

  The Click Project Coordinator
  

  Daughter-in-law and niece of breast cancer "thrivers"!

• Glenys

  

  • Moderator
  • 162 posts
  January 9, 2014 1:17:02 AM WATime

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  Hi Cate! Great to hear from you again.
  Yes I do recall your previous post regarding the pain under your arm, which you had said the Oncologist told you was due to cording. Cording often causes a 'lumpiness' or firm 'bands' to be felt in the armpit and/or extending down the arm (the term 'cording' arises from the cord-type bands that may develop), and is usually very painful!
  
  Specialist Lymphoedema Physiotherapists are the experts in this area at diagnosing and treating cording. Have you seen (or been referred to) a Physiotherapist with expertise in cording? The specialist physios in the Multidisciplinary Breast Service where I work state that possible cording problems need proper assessment and management as can be misdiagnosed and mistreated.
  Other possibilities include scar tissue and trapped nerve endings - again may be very painful. Correct massage techniques may help with this too. At times medication for nerve pain may be required to ease discomfort (nerve pain is often described as 'burning' and 'shooting pains').
  
  A good article posted by a breast surgeon in Victoria explaining some of these things can be found at: http://www.melbournebreastcancersurgery.com.au/after-your-breast-surgery.html
  Another article on cording that provides useful info (American site) .. http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws
  
  Accurate assessment and diagnosis is always the key factor, then correct management to resolve the problem as much as possible. Your specialist team (Oncologist / Surgeon) or your GP should be able to help with this, and a physiotherapist with expertise in this field may be the best person to treat if this is due to cording.
  
  All the very best Cate .. please let us know how you go.
  Love G xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• maria51

  

  • 4 posts
  January 15, 2014 9:08:13 PM WATime

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  Hi Cate, I was glad I saw your post as I am also experiencing similar burning pain, also some lumpy pieces under the arm, very painful also to the touch, and sometime it feels like I have a band like a horseshoe shape pulling under my arm from the front right round to the back. I was Click chat tonight and got advice to see Rachel at the Lyphoedema clinic in Perth as she specialises in all these related issues. My mastectomy was last July and expander/implant exchange in november. Becuase I had other issues I was still using pain relief. Since I decided to stop using pain relief I am very aware how much pain and discomfort I actually have and I realised that I need to get some help with this! Glenys also advised this.Hope you also get the help you need, it's good to know there is help for these after surgery issues (even years later).

  61 year youngmother of 3 grown up boys, 3 grandchildren. Mastectomy LB with implant reconstruction, removal of sentinel and lymph nodes, no radio or chemotherapy needed.