Radiated side puffy during chemo?

7of9

I had surgery back in January following a reccurence in my axillary lymph nodes (full hysterectomy same time as it was still ER positive tho slightly less so, BRC negative)) then went the unusual route of having radiation and an AI immediately after surgery, followed by four rounds of taxotere. I just finished my third round... Its rough, but doable. I noticed after my second round that my effected armpit and area above my collar bone seem fuller. My onc said that is typical...but it was puffiness under my armpit that led me to bug my nurse practitioner to get an ultrasound that found the reoccurrence last December.

As I'm sure most of you can relate, while we can help detect our first cancer, after multiple surgeries and now radiation to the area (chest wall, neck, breast, axilla)... What in the world am I supposed to look and feel for now that there is no chance of looking for eveness and proportion to the opposite side??? And this no symptom no scan nonsense will surely bother me more the second time around.

I was wondering if anyone else had similar fluid retention (does not seem to be lymphedema as I saw my occupational therapist a few weeks ago, no swelling of arm and hand so thats why I am thinking and hoping it's the radiated tissue and leftover lymph nodes reacting to the chemo )and this is not a recurrence this soon and during treatment? My surgeon was oddly confident enough that she got it all - and chimed in her two cents worth after surgery to do rads before chemo as my cat and bone scans were clear in January