Lymphedema Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

March 2019 Awareness Activities

Public Service Announcements:

Throughout the month on VOCM, CBC, VOWR, COAST, KROCK, HITS FM

Proclamation Signings:

· Minister of Health and Community Services on behalf of Government of NL – March 6th

· City of Mount Pearl – March 5th

· Town of Port Blandford – March 6th

See The PICs!

Building Lightings

· Confederation Building – March 6th

· Government House – March 6th

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

· Mayor Dave Aker signs Proclamation

Wednesday, March 6th, 2019

· 0720 am: CBC Radio/TV interview with Gy Hopkins (person living with lymphedema) and his Family Doctor, Dr. Norah Duggan with host Fred Hutton

· 0930 am: VOCM interview with Terry Walsh Oakley (Certified Lymphedema and ALT therapist) on Open Line with host Paddy Daley

· 1030 am: Aquatic Lymphatic Therapy (ALT) demonstration at New World Fitness with NTV recording of same

· 1200 pm: Minister Haggie signs Provincial Proclamation

· Mayor of Port Blandford signs Proclamation

· 1730 pm: NTV coverage of World Lymphedema Awareness Day and ALT demonstration

· Confederation Building lit light blue to recognize World Lymphedema Awareness Day

· Government House lit light blue to recognize World Lymphedema Awareness Day

Upcoming

Lymphie Connections (support group meeting) focusing on Nutrition and Lymphedema (Date/Location TBA)

March is Lymphedema Awareness Month

FAST FACTS:

• Lymphedema is a chronic disease caused by a buildup of lymph fluid. This happens when the lymphatic system is either faulty or damaged and cannot function as normal. It leads to chronic (long-lasting) swelling, most often in the arm or leg.

• Primary lymphedema occurs when a person is born with a faulty lymph system.

• Secondary lymphedema occurs when the lymph system is damaged by surgery, radiation treatment, or severe injury (e.g., burn or skin infection)..

• Impacts quality of life (e.g., loss of function in affected limb, negative body image, inability to work, chronic wounds, skin infections).

• Affects men, women and children!

• 120 million affected worldwide. Over 1 million in Canada. More than 15,000 in NL!

• Lymphedema is chronic but manageable!

• There is no cure!

• Treatment includes:

o Self care (weight control, exercise, well balanced diet, skin care, self massage)

o Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) by a certified lymphedema therapist

o Compression Garments

o Education for patients/families and health care providers – Knowledge is Power

• Support/Access to Resources include

o Lymphedema Association of NL/Lymphie Connections (support group)

o Canadian Lymphedema Framework

o Pathways Magazine

o International Lymphedema Framework

Contact information for Lymphedema Association of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Email us at: lymphedemanl@gmail.com

Website: lymphnl.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lymphnl and www.facebook.com/lymphieconnections

2019 Awareness Activities

Benefits of Membership

Compression Garment Discounts!

Compression Garment discounts from participating suppliers: Lawton’s Home Healthcare (Corner Brook and three St. John’s locations: Topsail Road, Avalon Mall and Elizabeth Avenue) offer LANL members a 15% discount on qualifying garments. Also, Health Quest (Grand Falls and St. John’s) is offering a 20% discount on qualifying garments! Bring your card to either supplier for proof of membership.

Pathways Magazine

An annual subscription to Pathways, Canada's National Lymphedema Magazine, as well as our quarterly regional insert. http://canadalymph.ca/pathways-overview/+

Updated information

Information - including the latest brochures and pamphlets - on the most up to date standard care for lymphedema and where in the province treatments are available.

Exercise your rights

The right to attend and vote at our Annual General Meeting

Just $45 annually

P.O. Box 23091, Churchill Square, St. John’s NL A1B 4J9

www.lymphnl.com www.facebook.com/lymphnl

email: lymphedemanl@gmail.com

Membership Form

Self-Management tools

Gov’t of NL can help with Chronic Disease Self-Management!

Did you know that the Department of Health and Community Services has a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program? From their website:

“Improving Health: My Way is a provincially sponsored, free program designed to help people positively manage the daily challenges of living with a chronic condition. Workshops are co-led by trained Leaders who themselves have a chronic condition or have cared for someone living with a chronic condition. Workshops consist of six sessions that are offered for 2.5 hours once a week, over a six week period. A support person of your choice (friend or family) may accompany you to the training sessions. Workshops are offered throughout the province, in each of the four regional health authorities.”

It looks useful and informative. Check out the website: https://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/chronicdisease/improving_health_my_way.html

Contact numbers for program information are:

Eastern Region: 709-752-3946 or 1-866-880-8998

Central Health: 709-256-5690

Labrador-Grenfell Health: 709-454-3333 Ext 7364

Western Health: 709-637-5000 Ext 6689

Scheduled Eastern Health workshops are listed here: http://www.easternhealth.ca/OurCommunity.aspx?d=2&id=1488&p=1487#ws

Check it out and let us know what you think!

About

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a chronic disease caused by a buildup of lymph fluid. This happens when the lymphatic system is either faulty or damaged and cannot function as normal. It leads to swelling in the tissues where the lymph flow is blocked. Most often the swelling is in an arm or leg, but it can also be in the breast, trunk, genitals or head and neck. It can affect everyone - children men and women.

Who we are

We are a not-for-profit organization, and our mission is to:

Provide support to patients and families who are affected by lymphedema,
Ensure individuals living with lymphedema have access to treatment,
Provide lymphedema education,
Encourage and promote lymphedema research, and
Promote care and treatment of lymphedema based on best practices within the medical community and the general public of Newfoundland and Labrador.