Lymphoedema Awareness

Lymphedema: The Under-diagnosed and Under-insured Disease that Affects People Across the World

Millions of people across the world suffer from lymphedema and don’t know it. They are also unaware of the treatments available to them.

Lymphedema most frequently affects the limbs, but can occur in any part of the body.

Lymphedema is an incurable disease. It can be hereditary, or caused by surgery or injury – anything that damages the lymph nodes or lymphatic drainage system. Cancer treatments that remove or damage lymph nodes are the most common cause.

Due to lack of public awareness and medical provider education, patients suffering from lymphedema often go undiagnosed, and once they are diagnosed, they are often told there’s simply nothing they can do about it.

“Worldwide there will be 27.5 million new cases of cancer each year by 2040” – That is a scary statistic.

And with that number of people being impacted by cancer and the huge number of people receiving medical treatment for cancer, a huge number will also develop Lymphoedema as a result of that treatment. Everyone knows what cancer is, so why don’t more people know about Lymphoedema?

March is Lymphoedema Awareness Month and Aideen from Beautiful Life has some great tips on her social media channels.

Please check out her Facebook, Instagram and/or LinkedIn and share the posts where possible, there is definitely someone you know who will learn something beneficial for their health and wellbeing.

Enquiries to aideen.schweppe@gmail.com
Instagram and Facebook: beauifullife.mld
MLD Website : www.mld.ie
LinkedIn – Aideen Schweppe