World Lymphoedema Week – Let’s Keep Talking About It

The 6th of March is World Lymphoedema Day!

Despite the fact that Lymphoedema is widely known amongst certain societal groups, it is obviously still not known enough that people who suffer from this severe and debilitating condition have access to enough funding to live well with it.

In my own experience as a multidisciplinary therapist I come across so many health practitioners and doctors that have not much knowledge about this condition and the greater problem is that they don’t know what can be done about it.

It is widely known that women after breast cancer have a reasonably high chance to suffer from BCRL (Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema) at some point in their lives, at the same there is not much awareness that also men can suffer from Leg Lymphoedema after prostate cancer in combination with radiation afterwards but also after any other injury, e.g. to their legs, groin area or after surgical procedures concerning the vascular system.

How do I come to this conclusion? Empirical Evidence is my answer. Close to all my male clients over the years who come to see me for swollen lower legs came either from their doctors with the diagnosis of unknown swelling or they came referred by other clients of mine or people who have suffered from Lymphoedema themselves and know that Manual Lymph Drainage will help.

That clearly shows the necessity for more information and education as well as actively lobbying for more support of these client’s treatments.

With the appropriate treatments in a timely manner we can avoid so much suffering and harm as well as the risk of disability when these clients are aging. So, we should rather spend the money on prevention and immediate health care than picking up the expensive pieces later.

Please help to spread the word, create awareness and just talk about it if you know someone who is affected by Lymphoedema or if someone doesn’t know that they are affected and suffering in silence.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me for support, I am always happy to help!