Lymphoedema is a common complication following surgery and treatment for breast cancer.
Lymphoedema is swelling of the arm and/or hand and sometimes occurs on the breast surgery area.
Blockage to lymph nodes and lymph vessels due to treatment can cause lymph fluid build up in the
interstitial tissues. Lymphoedema symptoms can be heaviness, pain, swelling and inflammation.
Women who complain of lymphoedema are assessed by trained BCFE staff and advised on awareness,
risk precautions, and the optimum treatment recommendations according to her individual condition.
Treatment involves:
- Exercise
- Good skin care
- Compression sleeve
- Complete decongestive therapy
Aims of the lymphoedema treatment programme are:
- To assess the effectiveness of the treatment in reducing the main symptoms and the possibility of it returning again
- To promote a better quality of life for women who have lymphoedema
See
BCFE lymphoedema brochure for more information (in Arabic). Subsidized lymphoedema treatment and compression sleeves
are offered through our means test process.Contact BCFE for more information
Lymphoedema awareness workshops
Workshops on awareness, prevention and treatment of lymphoedema are held for women of all educational levels.
Women are encouraged to openly discuss how they address the risks of lymphoedema and suggest possible solutions to
their peers in the group.
This workshop includes nutritional advice and exercises.
All women are checked if they have lymphoedema immediately after workshops and are referred for
complete decongestive therapy if required. This is an engaging experience for many participants
and BCFE has received a lot of positive feedback. Many women have benefited and found their
lymphoedema has improved through these sessions.
Workshops are held monthly and by appointment. Numbers are limited,
so please
contact us by phone early in the month to secure a place.