In this study, we examined whether axillary web syndrome (AWS) in patients with breast cancer following axil-lary lymph node dissection affects range of motion (ROM), upper extremity function, and quality of life (QOL). The risk factors for AWS were also evaluated in a total of 238 consecutive breast cancer patients follow-ing axillary lymph node dissection. At 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery, there were no significant differences between the AWS group and the non-AWS group in upper-limb function or QOL. At 2 months after surgery, shoulder flexion and abduction ROM were significantly higher in the AWS group than in the non-AWS group (p < 0.05). Self-training time at home was not significantly different between the groups at 1, 2, or 3 months. Only age was a significant predictor of AWS at 1 month after surgery (p < 0.05). The AWS group in the present study did not have worse results for shoulder joint ROM, upper-limb function, and QOL than the non-AWS group. Younger age should be useful for predicting the development of AWS in the early postoperative period.