Lymphoedema

Primary Lymphoedema

• Caused by genetic abnormalities in lymphatic development
• May not present until adolescence or adulthood
• Can effect any area and sometimes other body systems

Secondary Lymphoedema

• More common and results from damage to lymph nodes or vessels
• Can occur after cancer treatment, infections, trauma or with chronic disease
• May appear months or even years after the initial cause

At birth, around 1 in 6000 people will develop primary lymphoedema. Secondary lymphoedema affects around 20% of those treated for breast, genitourinary, gynaecological, or melanoma cancers.

Without treatment, lymphoedema worsens over time. However, it can be managed with the right care. Severity, location, and individual health factors influence the best treatment approach

• Venous disease
• Immobility or prolonged dependency
• Obesity
• Lipoedema
• Cancer or other chronic medical conditions

Primary lymphoedema can also underlie secondary causes.

Lymphoedema is not curable but is manageable with early diagnosis and care from an accredited lymphoedema practitioner. If untreated, it can progress from mild to advanced stages, increasing the risk of complications.

Some cancer services now offer pre-treatment assessments to support early detection, however self-monitoring is important.

Early warning signs may include:

• Swelling (intermittent or persistant) in a limb or body part.
• Heaviness, aching, tightness or stiffness
• Recurrent cellulitis
• Reduced range of motion
• Clothing or jewellery feeling tighter

These symptoms can have other causes, so a proper assessment including medical and surgical history is important for diagnosis.

Lymphoedema typically starts with intermittent swelling. Over time, fluid becomes thicker and rich in protein, leading to tissue hardening (fibrosis), increased fat deposits, and reduced immune function.
This progression can cause slower healing and a higher risk of infection, especially cellulitis.

Best-practice management involves a personalised, multidisciplinary approach led by a qualified lymphoedema therapist. In Australasia, the gold standard treatment is Complex Lymphoedema Therapy (CLT), which includes:

• Education
• Skin care
• Exercise
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
• Compression garments

Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs. Milder cases may be managed with basic care and ready-to-wear garments like Bioflect, while more advanced cases may need MLD and custom-measured compression garments.

Bioflect garments are not a substitute for prescribed compression however can complement them and are often prescribed as a step beforehand to assist the patient to become accustomed to compression.

Benefits include:

• Cost-effective and can be worn during the day, at night, in bed or during physical activity, when heavier, rigid compression garments are usually removed.
• Intelligent design stretches to be comfortable and effective over a broader range of body shapes and sizes
• Enhanced circulation and drainage
• Improved skin elasticity
• Support for pain relief and reduction in cellulite.

They assist with many of the symptoms as well as other conditions