axillary web syndrome – Breast Cancer Authority
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Mastectomy and Axillary Web Syndrome
June 16, 2015 by Breast Cancer Authority Staff 3 Comments
By: Denise Stewart, founder of Breast and Shoulder Rehabilitation and Breast Cancer Occupational Therapist.
Axillary Web Syndrome is known as AWS or Cording. Cording is easier to say and more accurately describes the problem.
Cording is tightness of normal tissue within the body and occurs predominantly after breast cancer surgery. It mostly develops in the first eight weeks, during the post- surgical healing phase, and sometimes during chemotherapy or after radiotherapy. Is it common? a review in 2014 of 37 studies, identified up to 84% of the women experienced cording after breast cancer surgery.
Initially, the tightness causes significant pain and can stop you from raising your arm or straighten your elbow. The tight tissue is just under the skin and can vary in thickness and presents as:
thin strings;
rope or cord like; or
a really thick band of tissue.
The very thick band which extends into the armpit has as yet not been recognized in the research literature as being typical of cording, however matches perfectly to the location and pain experience of the thinner cording experiences.
The tight tissue extends from the breast / chest area into the arm at varying levels:
to the armpit;
to the upper inside arm;
to the inside elbow;
to the inside wrist; and
The tight tissue is thought to be part of the lymph system, which is normally fine, soft and very stretchy vessels, just under the skin. In this area of the body, the lymph system travels from the side of the rib cage across the armpit and then down the inside arm.
Researchers currently offer no clear understanding about how or why cording occurs and surgeons may refer to Cording as “normal”. Therapists experienced in breast cancer rehabilitation do offer an explanation – breast scar tissue that forms during healing attaches to nearby tissues. Initially scar tissue lacks length and stretch and may adhere to structures such as nearby lymph vessels. This can then result in a corresponding reduction in the amount of stretch at these structures.
Cording assessment relies solely on seeing tightness, feeling tightness and the presence of a common pain experience. I believe that this reliance on physical assessment has resulted in many difficulties faced by women experiencing cording:
Cording is rarely discussed as a complication by the surgeon;
Some forms of cording may be difficult to see and feel;
Some women do not want to complain to their surgeon;
There is no recognized comprehensive physical assessment of Cording;
Cording assessment may not be a standard practice in the breast cancer clinic; and
There is very limited research into treatment protocols.
Because of these factors it is important for women, to be aware of what Cording is and how to convey this in the best way to their breast cancer team member so treatment options can be sought.
If the mastectomy scar line and the mastectomy chest scar are tight and lack stretch then it may be difficult to see Cording. In this case the arm may not be able to be raised above shoulder height and the tight band you see may not be Cording, but the pectoral muscle. However Cording is characterised by a common pain experience: pain is felt down the inside arm and may extend even to the wrist, or side trunk, when reaching up high or out to the side. So although it may be difficult to see the tight tissue – the pain and the tightness is real and you should seek specialised rehab services.
Cording can also be difficult to see if there is a generous amount of stretchy skin or fat in the arm pit, trunk and upper arm. The tight band of tissue usually extends and connects to very deep tissue at the side of the breast. Very often this connection to the breast scar tissue is missed because of the depth of the tissue and the impaired feeling in this area after a mastectomy. Yet in this case the telling symptom is the woman feels upper arm tightness and stinging pain down the inside arm or at the trunk during stretches.
Cording Cannot Be Seen
Use Simple Skin Stretch To See and Feel the Cording
The aim of good Cording assessment is to be able to initiate your best recovery plan. If you need help to assess whether you could have Cording, I have published an e book, Cording: self-assessment guide. There are many more photos and steps to help you see, feel and measure the post- surgery tightness and movement restrictions secondary to Cording. More details can be seen at: http://www.breastandshoulder-rehab.com.
Denise Stewart, founder of Breast and Shoulder Rehabilitation and an Occupational Therapist trained in Australia at University of Queensland. Her career started at a major public hospital, providing rehabilitation to people with very serious and chronic illness and injuries.
Next Blog: Treatments for Cording
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