Lymphedema is? A _____, ________, _________ unknown

A condition not a disease Manageable No prescriptions medication to utilize

A risk for a lifetime – if lymph nodes are removed or heavily radiated

A disabling or life altering diagnosis

A difficult topic to discuss and understand.

I am here today to

Impart that Lymphedema is manageable and

The tools we need to manage it ARE available and

There is HOPE to minimize the extremes

Julie Venn Custom Fit Therapies Inc Licensed massage therapist in 1998 Breast cancer in 1994, Lymphedema in 1999 Created Custom Fit Therapies, Inc in 1999-

lymphedema therapist and compression garment fitter

Lymphedema program consultant for Cancer Lifeline 2004 & 2005

Board member of the NW Lymphedema Center 2006 Participant in the Puget Sound Cancer Care Coalition

Training with North American Rehab, Klose Training & Dr. Bruno Chikly

What I CAN Do

Get information Seek out treatment Self Care, Self Care, Self Care Education Lymphedema Management Talk to others Talk to Doctor(S), Nurse(S), Care Provider(S) –

Find more than one person who takes interest in your condition and situation

Ask for Help Food

How CAN I possibly do this

Patience

Perseverance

Persistence

Other Impacts related to Diagnosis Self- Image

Fatigue

Depression

Intimacy

Activities

Answering other’s questions

Links/ Resources

NW Lymphedema Center Located in Kent, WA Self Care class One-on-One Consultation with RN Free viewing video on websitewww.nwlymphedemacenter.org

National Lymphedema Network (NLN) California Website has Position Papers on Risk Reduction,

Treatment, Travel, Exercise NLN Lymphedema Conference for care providerswww.lymphnet.org

Links/Resources Cont’d

Lymphedema People website Information and chat linewww.lymphedemapeople.com

Lymphatic Research Foundation Non-profit conducting research on the

lymphatic systemwww.lymphaticresearch.org

Questions

“Trust your heart and know that there is always a part of us that questions and worries. It is not a matter of making that voice go away but rather how and what I do to honor the doubts and still move forward. What steps do I need to take that safeguard the concerns?”

- Julie Venn

Appendix

Julie Venn, Custom Fit Therapies 1004/21/23