LE? Mondor? Swollen Lymph node....

TonLee

Finished chemo 4 weeks ago. 

Waiting on Rads.

I have some cording on the MX side, going up the arm and down the ribs.  I don't know if it is
Mondor or LE.

Today  I noticed one of the lymph nodes under my arm, (you know the axilla I fought to keep?!?!?!)  Well, one of them is swollen.  I'm taking a picture but don't know if it
will show up or not.

I'm calling the Dr in the morning to see if I can get an appointment.  Not sure what they're going
to say considering I've postponed radiation until my incision heals (and I get fills).  And everyone at the cancer center is "mad" about it.

I've circled the axilla lymph that is of concern.

And here are some more shots of the cording and lymph....

.....................

.....

I don't have an infection as far as I know.  Does LE cause swollen lymphs?  Mondor?

Binney4

TonLee, I wasn't able to read your posts yesterday due to a "Page Error" message that kept popping up -- and possibly others were having the same problem. So I apologize for the lack of answers to any of your posts. (BTW, as far as I know you can delete the content of any of them, but not the posts themselves. I wouldn't worry about it, though because they'll just drop down the board and disappear within a day or two.)

As for your questions, lymphedema does not involve swollen lymph nodes, but there are all sorts of benign reasons why you might be experiencing that. So, no need to panic (though how you'd keep from panicking I can't imagine -- we're all hyper-worried about these things!)

Cording is also NOT lymphedema. It's thrombosed lymph vessels, and it's possible that it's a factor in lymphedema developing later, though certainly not always. It's a separate condition, and with time it does resolve.

So, good idea to see your doctor today and get his reassurance about all this. Please do keep us posted.

Be well!
Binney

kira66715

TonLee, here is a link to page on cording/axillary web syndrome

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm

Traditionally, Mondor's is considered to be rare, involves the breast and thought to originate from veins that are irritated, yet recent studies show that frequently, those chest wall/breast cords are lymphatic vessels that are clotted off.

That enlarged lymph node might be a seroma (collection of fluid) or part of the cording. Best to be seen, and let us know how it goes.

Kira 

TonLee

Thanks.

I am seeing my Onc tomorrow at 11 am and asking for a referral to a LE and axilla webbing specialist.

KS1

TonLee, I do hope that this turns out to be a nothing. I have two visible "bumps" in my axilla, and my surgeon can feel several more running down my side. I had a Level 1 & 2 ALN clearance (22 nodes). Despite this, the one bump that was biopsied was indeed a lymph node (hypertrophic, but benign). When I drink a lot of water or do deep breathing the LNs get visibly smaller. If I elevate my arm or in the AM when my arm is smaller, the LN is smaller. So, though swollen LNs are not the same as LE, for me they are correlated. Thinking good thoughts. KS1

TonLee

Went to Onc today about the lump.

He listened patiently.  Felt the lump.  Said it was nothing.  Looked like it was vascular (a blood vessel) and part of the cording. Keep an eye on it.  If it starts to grow let him know.

I asked for a referral to an LE specialist.  He said it isn't LE, but he would send me for an evaluation.

Gave me my scrip for Tamox, said he didn't need to see me every month anymore.

Bye.