ReaLymph

19/12/2019

Lymphatic Research and Biology open access articles. https://mailchi.mp/lymphaticnetwork/gwx7j4yyew-1045341

16/12/2019

Two early-stage clinical trials led by Stanford researchers have shown that ketoprofen can improve skin damage in patients with lymphedema.

10/12/2019

Read about lipoedema, a poorly understood long-term condition where there's an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs, thighs and buttocks.

06/12/2019

Dry-Bushing for your health Dry-brushing is a simple, affordable way to boost your lymph system. It helps eliminate toxic build up on the surface of the skin and increases lymphatic drainage. Try it before your shower so you can rinse off any dead cells afterwards.  Getting Started: Pu

06/12/2019

Some treatments for sarcoma can leave you at risk of developing lymphoedema, but what is it? This updated factsheet talks about the sings, symptoms and how it can be prevented.

04/12/2019

SummaryBackgroundLymphoedema is a general term used to designate pathological, regional accumulation of protein-rich fluid. It can be either primary or secondary, and mainly occurs after cancer treatment.ObjectivesTo analyse the clinical and lymphoscintigraphic characteristics of primary upper-limb

04/12/2019

“"Lipoedema, what is the cause?" Presenting our results at the Day ”

04/12/2019

“Presenting our preliminary work on multimodality imaging of the lymphatic system. 😀😀. ”

03/12/2019

Purpose of reviewDespite being neglected both clinically and in research in the past, primary lymphoedema, and lymphoedema secondary to cancer treatment have been the subject of an increasing number of studies in recent years. This review will focus on new developments relevant to clinical practice.

28/11/2019

Cellulitis / Erysipelas in Pediatric and Primary Lymphedema by Dr. Vaughan Keeley, Lymphedema Consultant, Derby Teaching Hospitals NHSF Trust, Derby, UK. In ...

28/11/2019

An Overview of Pediatric and Primary Lymphedema by the VASCERN PPL-WG. The Pill of Knowledge (PoK) introduces the lymphatic system and gives a brief summary ...

25/11/2019

Inspirational work from the International Lymphoedema Framework
Watch the embedded video and see people getting their life back after being diagnosed with Lymphoedema

Lymphoedema films A series of films is now available for the support of lymphoedema patients in managing their chronic disease. The films are created by courtesy of the Lymphoedema Network Wales Framework and are produced by PocketMedic, a digital platform that allows clinicians in primary, secondar...

23/11/2019

“What's in a name? Perhaps renaming BRCA might save lives. https://t.co/8XrmmJMpSa ”

23/11/2019

Where do I get my information from: http://armandoh.org/resource HIT THE LIKE BUTTON! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmandoHasudungan Support me: http:/...

23/11/2019

Where do I get my information from: http://armandoh.org/resource Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmandoHasudungan Support me: http://www.patreon.com/arma...

21/11/2019

Did you know .... that the spleen, which is located in the upper left part of the abdomen under the ribcage, works as part of the lymphatic system to protect the body, clearing worn out red blood cells and other foreign bodies from the bloodstream to help fight off infection.

21/11/2019

Chronic edema caused by the relative failure of the lymphatic system is mistakenly thought of as a rare condition, when, in fact, it is not only a relatively common, universal medical problem, but also very difficult to treat. Insufficient data have not been available to estimate the size of the affected population and, thus, to support the extensive impact of this disease. In response to this need, the International Lymphoedema Framework coordinated and completed the Lymphedema Impact and Prevalence project (LIMPRINT) on a worldwide scale.

16/05/2019

Lymphoedema Staging

Stage 0 represents lymphedema without visible edema but a complaint of tissue heaviness while stage 1a shows soft visible edema without pitting that is reversible. Stage 1b demonstrates soft pitting edema that still remains reversible while stage 2 displays firm pitting edema that is irreversible but lacks tissue changes. The most severe of stages, stage 3 lymphedema, shows irreversible tissue changes such as hyperkeratosis or papillomatosis.

16/05/2019

Contraindications to Head & Neck Lymphoedema treatment: Hyperthyroidism, >50% internal carotid artery blockage, upper quadrant deep vein thrombosis, acute radiation dermatitis, acute renal failure, or a history of multiple cerebrovascular accidents or transient ischemic attacks (Foeldi&Foeldi, 2006)

16/05/2019

Head &Neck Lymphoedema - Difficult to manage?
Not after you read this article. Results indicate that 60% of patients with head and neck lymphoedema can expect to have significant improvement after CDT.

We sought to describe the presentation of external head and neck lymphedema in patients treated for head and neck cancer and examine their initial response to complete decongestive therapy.Case series with chart review.MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, ...

16/05/2019

The most effective, common and most widely accepted management method used for lymphoedema is called Complete/Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT).
CDT has been shown to have lasting effects on the severity of lymphoedema at all stages and to improve overall quality of life among lymphoedema sufferers.
CDT is a series of techniques including (1) a form of massage known as Manual Lymphatic/Lymph Drainage (MLD), (2) compression multilayer bandaging or clothing for Head and Neck Lymphoedema, on occasions with special padding, (3) exercises to improve the flow of lymph, and (4) skin care of the affected areas.

CDT may also be performed at home by the patient under the guidance of a lymphedema therapist.

15/05/2019

Below just a few of the many ways you can help protect yourself from infection, injury, or secondary infections like cellulitis. By giving a little extra thought to your body's needs, you can enjoy a healthy, happy and safe summer.

In the kitchen:

• Wear rubber gloves while washing dishes to protect from extreme hot water and from possible cuts or nicks from knives or broken glasses.
• When using scouring pads, wear rubber gloves to protect against tiny microscopic fibers that could work their way into a skin opening.
• Wear oven mitts when using the oven to protect against burns. Burns are one of the fastest avenues for infection. Silicone oven mitts are thick and offer great protection.
• When heavy lifting is involved, ask for help. A 4 pints bottle of milk, a heavy pot or bags of groceries can be harmful for arms affected by lymphedema if you have not trained your lymphatic system to undertake the pressure. Learn to make your loads a little lighter initially and then slowly and progressively increase the weight but always reassess how your swelling responds to the changes.your therapist can guide you on this.

In the bathroom:

• Lower your water temperature. Extremely hot water can not only injure the skin by causing damaging burns but can also increase the blood flow which subsequently leads to an increase in the swelling. For these reasons try to avoid a hot tub or sauna .
• Use PH-balanced or hypoallergenic soaps and cleansers. It's also important to moisturise the skin before donning compression garments but always allowing sufficient time to dry.
• If possible, use an electric razor on arms and legs if you suffer from lymphedema as any nick or cut from a regular razor is very dangerous and could invite an unwanted infection.
• Use natural deodorants instead of products that may contain harsh ingredients.
• When trimming nails, be careful not to cut your skin or clip nails too short. The same amount of care should be taken when you have a manicure or pedicure and always apply a topical antiseptic to the hands/feet afterwards.

In the yard:

• Wear gardening gloves and long sleeved shirts while working with plants and soil.
• Be cautious while using lawn mowers and other power tools.
• Wear loose fitting, light weight clothing especially during the hot summer months.
• Wear sunscreen and bug spray to protect against burns and bites. Baby mosquito repellents are more gentle to the skin and if applied regularly can do as good a job as the normal repellents.
• Wear long pants to protect your legs from scratches and other injuries. Always watch for swelling.
• Wear comfortable shoes, use kneeling pads or stool and don't stand for long periods of time especially if you have lymphedema in your lower extremities.

15/05/2019

Evidence base for Skin Care.

Although, there is a lack of research regarding BCRL specific skin washing and moisturising agents, soap has been the first line option for cleansing the skin (Voegeli 2010). It is well recognised that the main purpose, of cleansing the skin with soap and water, is to remove all the detritus however; the contained surfactants in the soap, the removal of the skin’s natural oils and the alkaline Ph of the soap are only few of the adverse effects that can lead to skin dryness and compromised skin integrity (Voegeli 2010).
It is therefore advocated that Ph balanced products used as an alternative to soap and water in order to maintain hygiene and promote skin conditioning (Penzer&Ersser 2010). Literature also suggests that inadequate drying of the skin can lead to friction damage and vasoconstriction with subsequent comromised skin integrity (Penzer&Esser 2010, Voegeli 2010). Meticulous skin drying using a gentle pad towel drying technique in order to prevent skin damage is therefore advised.

14/05/2019

It is well known that there is also primary/ hereditary lymphoedema. For those if you who are interested, below lies a brief but informative post on this type of lymphoedema.

Treatment for primary lymphoedema involves classification and diagnosis by a trained lymphoedema therapist and an individualized treatment plan based on the four cornerstones of care in the management of lymphoedema: Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Compression, Exercise and Skin Care. Medical taping is a...

14/05/2019

Lymphatic massage, also called lymphatic drainage or manual lymph drainage, is a treatment of lymphedema. Learn about lymphatic drainage massage here.

14/05/2019

Damage to the lymphatic system from cancer or its treatment can lead to lymphoedema. You can do things to reduce your risk.

13/05/2019

Moving on from the previous posts let’s now see what is lymphoedema. In simple words it’s “lymph”, fluid escaping from the blood vessels, that accumulates in the tissues and causes “oedema” which is another word for swelling because the lymphatic system cannot drain it back to the blood circulation. Why? Watch the video to find out.

13/05/2019

Thank you for staying tuned in ReaLymph, the hub to patient education and empowerment.
Lets’s get to know a bit more about the lymphatic system 🤓

What is the lymphatic system? The lymphatic system delivers fluid and larger molecules to the circulatory system, and it is involved in immune system surveil...

12/05/2019

Time to look into our immune system.
The aim is not to memorise the technical terms in this video but to get an idea of how our body works before we start exploring Cellulitis and what we can do to prevent it.

Our immune system is a fascinating entity, that functions in quite a unique and efficient manner. Comprising of various types of cells, it is prepared for an...

12/05/2019

Now let’s look into Cellulitis and Erysipelas the two main infections associated with lymphoedema. Although the video content focuses generally on lower limbs it’s well known that in lymphoedema Cellulitis can occur in any part of the body affected by lymphoedema due to the compromised immunity as a result of the impaired lymphatic system.

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