Axillary Web Syndrome After Breast Cancer Surgery: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Functional Outcomes

Axillary web syndrome (AWS), sometimes called "cording," is a condition that can develop after breast cancer surgery in which the lymph nodes under the arm are removed or sampled. It appears as one or more tight, painful cord-like structures running from the armpit down the inner arm. It can limit shoulder movement, cause pain, and interfere with daily activities. It is not yet clear how often AWS occurs, when it typically appears after surgery, which patients are most likely to develop it, or whether it is related to the arm swelling (lymphedema) that some patients experience after breast cancer treatment. Most previous studies looked back at patient records rather than following patients forward in time, so the answers remain uncertain. In this study, women who are having breast cancer surgery with either sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection will be examined b