Our Lymphoedema Service
O
ur lymphoedema clinics are an important part of the care services offered by St Luke’s, with more than 1,000 people receiving help each year.
St Luke’s is fortunate to have two Lymphoedema Specialist Practitioners based at the Hospice; Carol Thayer and Kirsty Sewell-Threadgold have between them over 50 years’ nursing experience. But what is lymphoedema and how is it treated? We chat to Kirsty who tells us more about the service and how it benefits patients.
Carol Thayer
Q. What is lymphoedema?
Q. How is it treated?
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Patie nt vo ic
Thank you for all your professional and emotional support with my lymphoedema. I appreciate all the help you have given me, you went above and beyond.
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A. Lymphoedema is a long-term condition which causes swelling in the body’s tissues. It can affect any part of the body, but usually develops in the arms and legs. It is caused by a failure of the lymphatic system which can be the result of an inherited genetic condition, cancer treatment, injury or infection.
A. There is no cure for lymphoedema but it is possible to control the main symptoms using techniques to reduce fluid build-up and stimulate the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system.
At our clinics we provide skin care advice which is very important because one of the biggest risks with lymphoedema is developing an infection called cellulitis.
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For more information about our lymphoedema service please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/lymphoedema
