Good to hear this interview today into research on lymphoedema. I have this condition as a side effect of breast cancer treatment, because of course I do - I managed to get almost all the side effects 🙃
Anyway, these people are very good at explaining about the condition and the basic workings of the lymphatic system - Mum, who is pretty hopeless at understanding biological and medical things, was commending it!
@gsymon
""I was gaslighted by a rude doctor who said 'you're going to be in a wheelchair by the time your 35, so you better get in what you can get in now, and enjoy your life as it is. It's just swelling, there's nothing we can do about it'," she says."
Holy shit
Maybe some #science lovers would like to go where no man has gone before?
#Lymphoedema #Health #Healthcare #BBC #BBCScience #Cancer
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241216-lymphoedema-the-hidden-pandemic-affecting-250-million
BME cancer patients given wigs for white women and wrong coloured prosthetic breasts | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/cancer-patients-wrong-prosthetics-wigs-b2582196.html
#BreastCancer
#Cancer
#BME
#POC
#Wigs
#ProstheticBreasts
#SkinColour
#MentalHealth
#WigsNotDesignedForEthnicMinorities
#InstitutionalRacism
#Ignorance
#Racism
#Prejudice
#UnconsciousBias
#BlackWomenRising
#RoyalMarsden
#Lymphoedema
#LynphoedemaSleeves
#Macmillan
#NHS
#HealthInequalities
#HealthCare
#CancerCare
After a few months of my husband positing that my #lymphoedema seems worse around my period (or at least I complain about it more...) TIL that it's true! Our bodies retain more water at certain points in the hormone cycle and that can impact swelling!
I'm at the AGM for the #Lymphoedema Support Network today and have just found out there's apparently a lymphatic system around the brain which could have all kinds of implications for understanding Alzheimer's and those with lymphoedema - fascinating!
For anyone interested, you can find out about and sign up to the research project here:
https://ourfuturehealth.org.uk/
People with #lymphoedema are accepted so long as you're happy to have your blood pressure / blood taken!
I visited the vampires today to contribute to a massive health research project and absolutely floored the tester when I answered 'yes' to one of the routine opening questions. At least he knew enough to know that #lymphoedema is *not* the same as lymphoma which is my usual issue!
We had a lovely chat about 'stevie the squeezie sleevie' and how my body is a sponge not a balloon. Though it's hard to say if any of the metaphors worked!
Ali Clarke 
Bob Machintruc
Grant
AutisticMumTo3
Kate Wallis
Banie01
Dr Rachel Crockett