The Western Trust support Lymphoedema Awareness week

by Gráinne Connolly

Lymphoedema affects over 240,000 men, women and children across the UK. 

This week marks Lymphoedema awareness week and the Western Trust are showing their support by wearing odd socks for their theme "sock it to Lymphoedema". 

The condition is a long term illness where parts of your body swell causing discomfort, heaviness, decreased range of movement, loss of function and skin changes. 

The lymphatic system in a person can be impaired from birth or can be a result of trauma or damage. 

Secondary causes of the illness can be from cancer (caused by radiotherapy, surgery or the cancer itself), obesity, reduced mobility or paralysis, recurrent cellulitis infections or chronic venous insufficiency. 

The Lymphoedema services in the Western Trust were set up in 2010 with teams in Altnagelvin, Tyrone County and South West Acute Hospitals. They work with providing advice, exercise, skincare and specific massage techniques. 

The teams within the Trust have been working on raising awareness over the years and have realised that early detection and referral can lead to a better outcome for the patients in the long term.