Swollen node/cording after SLN

What I thought were swollen nodes (in my breast at the core biopsy site and then a much bigger and painful one near my armpit after SNB) were both seromas. (I blister very easily, so it stands to reason I also tend to form seromas). I didn’t get cording till after I finished rads, and it was in my inner forearm (and popped spontaneously). My seroma actually exploded when the weight of my too-large breast pulled the SNB incision open—it had to be sutured closed (which worked). What helped me with the seroma till it finally disappeared was both intermittent icing and keeping a pillow between the underside of my upper arm and my ‘pit. (My BS’ NP gave me a homemade one with a velcro strap to hang over my shoulder like a purse, and it had a pocket that held a smaller cushion to put between the car’s shoulder belt and my breast).

Ask your BS if it’s okay to do stretching for the cording—and if she can refer you to a LE PT who can massage it.

my sentinel node area also came open and leaked fluid but then healed up fine. And yes, it did feel like a swollen spot there, hope that is all it is. I also got some cording after surgery, but it has resolved.

It's probably scar tissue. That is how cording forms. Scar tissue forms and starts acting like a tourniquet on the lymph vessels, thus pulling them taut. Tbh, the only way I know they can be "fixed" is by breaking the scar tissue. Make sure that the PT person you're seeing knows how to do that. Beware of the fact that it's a VERY intense pain, but it only lasts a fraction of a second.After which you feel SO much better. I had extreme cording (axillary web syndrome) after the ALND, over a dozen cords, my arm was stuck at a 90 degree angle at the elbow, and you could see those cords sticking out under the skin from the base of the thumb to the armpit. My ex was taught by the PT person to break the scar tissue in the armpit. I needed 4-5 times a day that done, and it would re-form in a couple hours and needed it done again. Took over 2 weeks before it completely disappeared.

Icantri, you might want to check out the StepUp-SpeakOut page on cording here:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillar...

Some studies have been done that indicate cording involves thrombosed lymph vessels, so purposely "breaking" or "snapping" them is not recommended, as it may further damage the vessels. They do sometimes "snap" on their own, but the recommended treatment is not to snap them but to gently stretch the tissues, releasing the blockage. So perhaps breaking up surrounding scar tissue by gently stretching the tissue, as your therapist seems to be doing, will be a better route for you.

Hope you soon have real relief! Hugs,
Binney

I still have cording over a year and a half later. I've had physical therapy for them last summer. The PT tried to get them to snap but they never did. Mine are though strong cords. I can't shave my arm pits properly because of it. I've read they eventually resolve on their own, but I really don't believe it

carms - I would recommend that you get to an LET - a physical or occupational therapist trained & certified in LE treatment. They should be able to resolve the cording.

Hoping the answer is an easy fix.