Lymphedema or something else?

[Rachnick]

Hi!

I have a question about a new issue I'm having and I hope someone can shed some light on it for me. I'm 11 years away from bilateral mastectomies during which they removed 3 lymph nodes from each side (cancer was on the right side). In 2012, I was diagnosed with a new breast cancer. After it was removed, I had chemo and radiation (to the right side). Radiation ended in July 2013. Lately, I've been having pain when I extend my right arm out in certain directions. And I just noticed today that when I feel the tender spot that's in the middle of my bicep from which the pain radiates, it feels like there are some lumpy "strings" in my bicep. I also noticed that further down my bicep toward the inside of my elbow, my skin looks like it's a little puckery. When I compress that bicep with my left hand and extend it, it doesn't hurt.

Does anyone know if this is the start of lymphedema? As much as I don't want to deal with that, I'd rather have the problem be treatment-related than cancer-related. Thank you so much for any input you can give me!

Susan