Let's talk about lymphoedema!

Lymphoedema is everybody's business. This was the underlying theme expressed by speakers at the National Lymphoedema Conference organised for the 12th year in a row by the British Journal of Community Nursing. The support of the British Lymphoedema Society, Lipoedema UK and Lymphoedema Support Network has been instrumental in making this event possible every year. Professionals from all areas of healthcare exchanged opinions, ideas and knowledge regarding Lymphoedema. As always, the conference was a huge success and was attended by more than 230 delegates from across the UK.

As with any long-term condition, lymphoedema has an immense impact on the person's life. It can be emotionally and physically challenging as lymphoedema symptoms can include reduced mobility, skin issues, depression and can lead to possible work limitations. The physical aspects of any chronic disease often take the focus away from its psychological and emotional effects. These eventually take a toll on the person's mental health and may cause lasting trauma if left unaddressed and untreated. Lymphoedema can have extensive psychological effects on the person living with it. Many of the speakers at the conference shared the mental and emotional experiences of patients or family members. They also stressed the importance of educating the patients about making the necessary lifestyle changes to manage and control lymphoedema symptoms.