This session will commence with the introduction of the diversity of the normal genital shape for men and women. We will review the potential causes of genital oedema and look at how the swelling may distort the genitalia and affect basic functions such as micturition. Assessing genital oedema can be complex as not only does it present with a physical distortion, but also emotionally, these people can be vulnerable and distressed by the time they get to a lymphoedema clinic. We will look at assessment forms that can guide your subjective information and discuss the physical examination. Finally, we will explore potential conservative treatments, as well as briefly touching on surgical options for this patient group.
Genital oedema; male and female surgical perspectives
09:45 - 10:05
This presentation will highlight the range of problems that male patients with genital lymphoedema can suffer along with the typical causes. I will explain how I assess them as the surgeon within a multidisciplinary team along with a lympho-vascular clinician and therapist. Surgical techniques will be described and the anticipated outcomes.
The incidence and assessment of breast lymphoedema
10:20 - 10:50
It is recognised that patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer are at risk of developing lymphoedema of the arm. Lymphoedema can also affect the breast but this area is not as well studied and recognised by clinicians.
This session will review the incidence and potential risk factors for breast lymphoedema development. It will include how the presence of breast lymphoedema can be determined and some of the treatment options.
Compression Challenges in Lipoedema: introducing Haddenham Grace (Sponsored by Haddenham)
11:30 - 12:00
This session begins with a review of what lipoedema is, how it presents and the possible management options.
The problems encountered by people with lipoedema will be explored, with a particular focus on the problems commonly experienced with compression. Lymphoedema specialists will be well-aware of the difficulties faced with the fitting, efficacy and comfort of compression hosiery for patients with lipoedema, and how concordance, and hence a successful outcome, can be poorly affected by these issues.
The Haddenham Grace range of compression will be introduced, as a new innovative garment especially designed and manufactured to meet the compression needs of patients with lipoedema.
Benefits of Lymphoedema Deployment into Community Services during COVID-19
12:00 - 12:30
Discussing the value and benefit of this deployment for patients and the NHS. The lymphoedema service continued to deliver services throughout the pandemic however also supported community services with the management of forty patients currently on the community case load. 97% of these patients presented with lower limb wounds and chronic oedema, but only 43% were known to the lymphoedema service. These patients were seen exclusively by the lymphoedema therapist’s over the four month period, increasing and altering many of the patient’s compression, resulting in 20% of patients being discharged off the community case load, and a further 20% requiring less visits. Also working with unregistered staff to upskill and facilitate safe delegation. This deployment clearly demonstrates lymphoedema therapists as compression experts and their ability to reduce inefficiencies in both dressing costs and nursing time. Reinforcing the value of the on the ground clinical lympheodema educator’s role within the NHS.
This session will look at the signs and symptoms associated with the development of head and neck cancer-related lymphoedema, and the challenges these present in relation to changes in function and in particular, the psychological impact of changes in body image. Based on clinical experience, the various management options will be discussed to provide practical advice to help reduce swelling and improve quality of life.
Management of Breast oedema – introducing an innovative compression garment (Sponsored by Haddenham)
14:00 - 14:30
Advances in breast cancer management , including breast conserving surgery has led to an increase in the incidence of breast oedema. While upper limb lymphoedema is generally well managed, breast oedema is often regarded as a consequence of surgery and not always treated if specialist therapists are not available.
Compression is a recognised part of oedema management & there are a variety of bras on the market.
Following on from the success of Comfiwave limb garments, a bra band has been developed to aid the management of breast & chest wall oedema. This session discusses its use through patient case studies, as a tool for the management of this often distressing condition.
Lipoedema and Diet - A long term study with De Montfort University
15:00 - 15:30
Lipoedema UK have entered into a long term collaboration with De Montfort University to investigate why conventional diets fail to have any impact on Lipoedema. The study will include dietary trials to find an optimal diet to prevent weight gain and reduce existing areas of Lipoedema fat.
Women with Lipoedema have been consistently let down by conventional wisdom on weight management and exercise and the lack of knowledge of Lipoedema throughout the medical profession. Patients with Lipoedema are often found obese and have concurrent lymphoedema conditions, which adds to the complexity of disease treatment and management.
Faerber (2018) shed the light on the pro- and anti-inflammatory properties of diet as the potential focus for Lipoedema management, as chronic inflammation has been suggested as one of the pathophysiological processes involved in Lipoedema.
The aim of the session is talk about the challenges that are faced by clinicians and patients with heart failure. This specifically relates to the use of compression therapy in the management of chronic oedema and lymphoedema when using this approach. Despite, these challenges, its use can be beneficial to this patient group, if it is considered against the available evidence, and within a personalised care approach.
Sharie has been Chair of Lipoedema UK since 2014. She initiated the first patient survey in 2012 and co-authored Lipoedema UK’s Big Survey Research Report which has been instrumental in creating an impetus for better awareness of Lipoedema and referenced in numerous worldwide research projects. Lipoedema UK continue to play an important role in providing a voice for women with Lipoedema who have consistently been let down by conventional wisdom on weight management and the lack of knowledge of lipoedema throughout the medical profession.
Sharie, along with Mary Warrilow, Lipoedema UK Nurse Consultant and Dr Yannan (Jessica) Jin BSc (Hons) Ph.D FHEA RNutr (Nutrition Science), Senior Lecturer in Nutrition De Montfort University, is committed to a long term study on the effects of Diet and Lifestyle on Lipoedema. Sharie also co-authored ‘Women in dire need denied surgery and treatments: Compression Garments and Liposuction to Manage Lipoedema’ and is currently involved in Lipoedema UK’s latest survey ‘Living with Lipoedema - Liposuction and other treatments’ and the NICE review into Non-cosmetic liposuction in managing Lipoedema guidance’
Sharie Fetzer
Chair
Lipoedema UK
Sharie has been Chair of Lipoedema UK since 2014. She initiated the first patient survey in 2012 and co-authored Lipoedema UK’s Big Survey Research Report which has been instrumental in creating an impetus for better awareness of Lipoedema and referenced in numerous worldwide research projects. Lipoedema UK continue to play an important role in providing a voice for women with Lipoedema who have consistently been let down by conventional wisdom on weight management and the lack of knowledge of lipoedema throughout the medical profession.
Sharie, along with Mary Warrilow, Lipoedema UK Nurse Consultant and Dr Yannan (Jessica) Jin BSc (Hons) Ph.D FHEA RNutr (Nutrition Science), Senior Lecturer in Nutrition De Montfort University, is committed to a long term study on the effects of Diet and Lifestyle on Lipoedema. Sharie also co-authored ‘Women in dire need denied surgery and treatments: Compression Garments and Liposuction to Manage Lipoedema’ and is currently involved in Lipoedema UK’s latest survey ‘Living with Lipoedema - Liposuction and other treatments’ and the NICE review into Non-cosmetic liposuction in managing Lipoedema guidance’
Cheryl Pike
National Macmillan Innovations Lymphoedema Specialist
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Cheryl Pike trained as a physiotherapist at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In 1999, Cheryl came to the UK to expand her knowledge and skillset in rehabilitation therapy. As part of a service development role in palliative care, Cheryl realised her basic training for lymphoedema was insufficient for patients, and this set her on her path to become a lymphoedema therapist. She trained under Catherine Groom and Dr Melanie Thomas in 2004, and later became a qualified MLD teacher herself in 2016. Cheryl has presented at national and international conferences, and has recently completed a Doctorate in Professional Practice, looking at the use of 3D technology in assessing people with upper limb lymphoedema.
Cheryl Pike
National Macmillan Innovations Lymphoedema Specialist
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Cheryl Pike trained as a physiotherapist at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In 1999, Cheryl came to the UK to expand her knowledge and skillset in rehabilitation therapy. As part of a service development role in palliative care, Cheryl realised her basic training for lymphoedema was insufficient for patients, and this set her on her path to become a lymphoedema therapist. She trained under Catherine Groom and Dr Melanie Thomas in 2004, and later became a qualified MLD teacher herself in 2016. Cheryl has presented at national and international conferences, and has recently completed a Doctorate in Professional Practice, looking at the use of 3D technology in assessing people with upper limb lymphoedema.
Professor Nick Watkin
Professor of Urology
St George’s Hospital London
Nick Watkin is Professor of Urology and Consultant Urological surgeon at St George’s University of London and St George’s Hospital London. He specialises in reconstructive urology for both malignant and benign disease and leads the urological cancer team twice awarded National Cancer Team of the Year. They were awarded European Reference Centre status in 2017. The genital lymphoedema service was set up in 2003 as a multi-disciplinary team to manage both congenital and acquired conditions and see 20-25 new patients per year.
Nick has published over 130 peer-reviewed papers and more than 260 presentations at International Urology meetings. He was awarded the Golden Cystoscope for outstanding contribution to British Urology in 2010 and is the Academic Training Program Director for the London School of Surgery and Chair of the Specialist Urology Training Committee.
Professor Nick Watkin
Professor of Urology
St George’s Hospital London
Nick Watkin is Professor of Urology and Consultant Urological surgeon at St George’s University of London and St George’s Hospital London. He specialises in reconstructive urology for both malignant and benign disease and leads the urological cancer team twice awarded National Cancer Team of the Year. They were awarded European Reference Centre status in 2017. The genital lymphoedema service was set up in 2003 as a multi-disciplinary team to manage both congenital and acquired conditions and see 20-25 new patients per year.
Nick has published over 130 peer-reviewed papers and more than 260 presentations at International Urology meetings. He was awarded the Golden Cystoscope for outstanding contribution to British Urology in 2010 and is the Academic Training Program Director for the London School of Surgery and Chair of the Specialist Urology Training Committee.
Katie Riches
Vice Chair
BLS
Katie is a research nurse working with Vaughan Keeley and the team in Derby. She is currently undertaking a PhD designed to improve the assessment of breast lymphoedema. She is involved in a range of research studies which focus on the assessment and early intervention of arm lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment, genetic studies designed to identify genes relating to primary lymphoedema and lipoedema and an RCT comparing different treatment doses of IPC. Her other research interests include quality of life and the measurement of oedema.
Katie Riches
Vice Chair
BLS
Katie is a research nurse working with Vaughan Keeley and the team in Derby. She is currently undertaking a PhD designed to improve the assessment of breast lymphoedema. She is involved in a range of research studies which focus on the assessment and early intervention of arm lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment, genetic studies designed to identify genes relating to primary lymphoedema and lipoedema and an RCT comparing different treatment doses of IPC. Her other research interests include quality of life and the measurement of oedema.
Jeanne Everett
Lymphoedema Specialist Nurse
St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington
Jeanne started her lymphoedema career in the early 1990s, setting up the lymphoedema clinic in Durham. She then moved into a specialist clinical role across South Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire, and in 2013 set up the Lymphoedema Service based in Imperial Healthcare Trust at Charing Cross Hospital. Having been the Lymphoedema Clinical Lead at Teesside Hospice for some years, Jeanne has now “downsized” to become part time Lymphoedema Nurse at St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington, leaving herself more time to pursue her passion for education. Jeanne currently runs several lymphoedema courses: a rolling program of study sessions for non-specialists, and Clinical and Specialist Skills courses, the latter including training in Casley Smith MLD.
Jeanne Everett
Lymphoedema Specialist Nurse
St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington
Jeanne started her lymphoedema career in the early 1990s, setting up the lymphoedema clinic in Durham. She then moved into a specialist clinical role across South Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire, and in 2013 set up the Lymphoedema Service based in Imperial Healthcare Trust at Charing Cross Hospital. Having been the Lymphoedema Clinical Lead at Teesside Hospice for some years, Jeanne has now “downsized” to become part time Lymphoedema Nurse at St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington, leaving herself more time to pursue her passion for education. Jeanne currently runs several lymphoedema courses: a rolling program of study sessions for non-specialists, and Clinical and Specialist Skills courses, the latter including training in Casley Smith MLD.
Karen Morgan
National Lymphoedema Education Lead in Wales
Lymphoedema Network Wales NHS in Wales (SBUHB)
Karen Morgan is a registered nurse by background. She was appointed the National Lymphoedema Education lead in Wales in 2012 and is Deputy to Dr Melanie Thomas National Clinical Lead and Associate Director for Lymphoedema in Wales. She has been pivotal in developing and delivering accredited lymphoedema education in Wales utilising Agored work based credits. In 2016 led the on the ground clinical educators project funded by the Welsh Government Health Technology and Innovation Fund. Developing jointly The Chronic Oedema “Wet Leg Pathway” as an output. Awarded the British Journal of Nursing Chronic Oedema Nurse of the Year for this work in 2018. Supporting the ongoing implementation of the On the Ground clinical lymphoedema educators throughout Wales.
Karen Morgan
National Lymphoedema Education Lead in Wales
Lymphoedema Network Wales NHS in Wales (SBUHB)
Karen Morgan is a registered nurse by background. She was appointed the National Lymphoedema Education lead in Wales in 2012 and is Deputy to Dr Melanie Thomas National Clinical Lead and Associate Director for Lymphoedema in Wales. She has been pivotal in developing and delivering accredited lymphoedema education in Wales utilising Agored work based credits. In 2016 led the on the ground clinical educators project funded by the Welsh Government Health Technology and Innovation Fund. Developing jointly The Chronic Oedema “Wet Leg Pathway” as an output. Awarded the British Journal of Nursing Chronic Oedema Nurse of the Year for this work in 2018. Supporting the ongoing implementation of the On the Ground clinical lymphoedema educators throughout Wales.
Rachel Day
Macmillan Specialist Lymphoedema Practitioner
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Rachel qualified as a physiotherapist in 2004. She joined the lymphoedema service at The Royal Marsden Hospital in 2008 and has worked as a lymphoedema therapist since.
Rachel Day
Macmillan Specialist Lymphoedema Practitioner
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Rachel qualified as a physiotherapist in 2004. She joined the lymphoedema service at The Royal Marsden Hospital in 2008 and has worked as a lymphoedema therapist since.
Sue Lawrance
Clinical Nurse Specialist Lymphoedema
Buckinghamshire Healthcare / Haddenham Healthcare
Sue started her training at the Oxford School of Nursing in 1980.
After qualifying she remained in Oxford working as a Staff Nurse within the general surgery & vascular department before moving to North London to take up a District Nursing role.
With a background in vascular surgery & District nursing, chronic oedema & lymphology have been the focus of Sue’s nursing career for the past 35 years. As a District nurse, Sue was involved in developing a community leg ulcer clinic & following the 1991 QNI Award for Innovative Practice, a community based lymphoedema service.
Since 1997 Sue has developed and managed the Lymphoedema service for Mid & North Bucks based at Florence Nightingale Hospice, Aylesbury. The service is nurse led & treats Primary & Secondary Lymphoedema along with an increasing caseload of chronic oedemas, primarily on an outpatient clinic basis, but with input into the acute sector, Hospice inpatient unit and community.
Sue is also part of a team of clinical trainers for Haddenham Healthcare, delivering education & training to healthcare professionals involved with chronic oedema /lymphoedema management.
Sue Lawrance
Clinical Nurse Specialist Lymphoedema
Buckinghamshire Healthcare / Haddenham Healthcare
Sue started her training at the Oxford School of Nursing in 1980.
After qualifying she remained in Oxford working as a Staff Nurse within the general surgery & vascular department before moving to North London to take up a District Nursing role.
With a background in vascular surgery & District nursing, chronic oedema & lymphology have been the focus of Sue’s nursing career for the past 35 years. As a District nurse, Sue was involved in developing a community leg ulcer clinic & following the 1991 QNI Award for Innovative Practice, a community based lymphoedema service.
Since 1997 Sue has developed and managed the Lymphoedema service for Mid & North Bucks based at Florence Nightingale Hospice, Aylesbury. The service is nurse led & treats Primary & Secondary Lymphoedema along with an increasing caseload of chronic oedemas, primarily on an outpatient clinic basis, but with input into the acute sector, Hospice inpatient unit and community.
Sue is also part of a team of clinical trainers for Haddenham Healthcare, delivering education & training to healthcare professionals involved with chronic oedema /lymphoedema management.
Sharie Fetzer
Chair
Lipoedema UK
Sharie has been Chair of Lipoedema UK since 2014. She initiated the first patient survey in 2012 and co-authored Lipoedema UK’s Big Survey Research Report which has been instrumental in creating an impetus for better awareness of Lipoedema and referenced in numerous worldwide research projects. Lipoedema UK continue to play an important role in providing a voice for women with Lipoedema who have consistently been let down by conventional wisdom on weight management and the lack of knowledge of lipoedema throughout the medical profession.
Sharie, along with Mary Warrilow, Lipoedema UK Nurse Consultant and Dr Yannan (Jessica) Jin BSc (Hons) Ph.D FHEA RNutr (Nutrition Science), Senior Lecturer in Nutrition De Montfort University, is committed to a long term study on the effects of Diet and Lifestyle on Lipoedema. Sharie also co-authored ‘Women in dire need denied surgery and treatments: Compression Garments and Liposuction to Manage Lipoedema’ and is currently involved in Lipoedema UK’s latest survey ‘Living with Lipoedema - Liposuction and other treatments’ and the NICE review into Non-cosmetic liposuction in managing Lipoedema guidance’
Sharie Fetzer
Chair
Lipoedema UK
Sharie has been Chair of Lipoedema UK since 2014. She initiated the first patient survey in 2012 and co-authored Lipoedema UK’s Big Survey Research Report which has been instrumental in creating an impetus for better awareness of Lipoedema and referenced in numerous worldwide research projects. Lipoedema UK continue to play an important role in providing a voice for women with Lipoedema who have consistently been let down by conventional wisdom on weight management and the lack of knowledge of lipoedema throughout the medical profession.
Sharie, along with Mary Warrilow, Lipoedema UK Nurse Consultant and Dr Yannan (Jessica) Jin BSc (Hons) Ph.D FHEA RNutr (Nutrition Science), Senior Lecturer in Nutrition De Montfort University, is committed to a long term study on the effects of Diet and Lifestyle on Lipoedema. Sharie also co-authored ‘Women in dire need denied surgery and treatments: Compression Garments and Liposuction to Manage Lipoedema’ and is currently involved in Lipoedema UK’s latest survey ‘Living with Lipoedema - Liposuction and other treatments’ and the NICE review into Non-cosmetic liposuction in managing Lipoedema guidance’
Garry Cooper-Stanton
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Assistant Professor
University of Birmingham and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Garry Cooper-Stanton works as a clinical nurse specialist in lymphoedema and within academia at the University of Birmingham (UoB). In recognition of his work within the community he was awarded the title of Queens Nurse from the QNI. He is currently undertaking his Doctoral Research (UoB) focusing upon men and their experiences of lymphoedema. This builds on his previous research regarding the prevalence of lymphoedema in the West Midlands and South West. He has also worked as an occupational health nurse, community nurse and been a committee member of the British Lymphology Society.
Garry Cooper-Stanton
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Assistant Professor
University of Birmingham and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Garry Cooper-Stanton works as a clinical nurse specialist in lymphoedema and within academia at the University of Birmingham (UoB). In recognition of his work within the community he was awarded the title of Queens Nurse from the QNI. He is currently undertaking his Doctoral Research (UoB) focusing upon men and their experiences of lymphoedema. This builds on his previous research regarding the prevalence of lymphoedema in the West Midlands and South West. He has also worked as an occupational health nurse, community nurse and been a committee member of the British Lymphology Society.
