March is Lymphedema Awareness Month

Join LANL in supporting World Lymphedema Day and Lymphedema Awareness month!

World Lymphedema Day is an annual celebratory event to educate the world about lymphatic diseases. We look forward to you joining advocates from around the world in advocating for lymphedema. It’s important to use your voice to express the change you want to see in the world— and especially here in NL -- a world where lymphatic diseases are a global priority. What is LANL doing this year?

LANL is continuing to educate and raise awareness of lymphedema by:

Proclamations – asking every municipality in NL to proclaim March 6 as World Lymphedema Day – Check out our Facebook posts for a map of where proclamations have been issued in NL!
Building Lightings – requesting that Government House, Confederation Building, St. John’s City Hall and Mount Pearl City Hall light up their buildings in blue to raise awareness of World Lymphedema Day.
Lymphie Connections support group virtual meeting -having Amanda Janes of Concept Nutrition present “Making It a Lifestyle” on Monday, March 14, 2022, at 7PM via Zoom. Register by emailing lymphedemanl@gmail.com by March 7 to get the recipes so you can join in!
Media events – We’ll let you know as the media events are confirmed, but we’re working on; 1. talking to Linda Swain, On Target VOCM, and Paddy Daly, Open Line, VOCM, an article in the Newfoundland Herald, talking to NTV, and messages on Community Bulletin Boards for Rogers and Eastlink.
Provincial Working Group on Lymphedema – emailing every NL Member of the House of Assembly (MHA) requesting support to have this working group re-established after staffing changes at the Department of Health and Community Services (HSC) and Covid-19 led to its being neglected.

What can you do?

Write or email your MHA asking for their support in re-establishing the Provincial Working Group on Lymphedema. See link below for sample text. The list of MHAs for NL can be found here: https://www.assembly.nl.ca/members/members.aspx

Ask your friends and relatives to write or email their MHA asking for their support in re-establishing the Provincial Working Group on Lymphedema. See link below for sample text The list of MHAs for NL can be found here: https://www.assembly.nl.ca/members/members.aspx

Contact your town council to ask whether they are proclaiming March 6 as World Lymphedema Day.

Contact your town council to ask whether they will light their building in blue to recognize March 6 as World Lymphedema Day.

letters to MHAs

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