Amongst sufferers who’ve undergone most cancers care, advocating for baseline lymphedema testing and early detection is a crucial a part of care, in keeping with Dr. Sheri Yolanda Prentiss, who added that sufferers ought to communicate with their most cancers care staff and ask about lymphedema screening.
Glossary
L-Dex Testing Utilizing a SOZO System: a technique that measures extracellular fluid ranges to evaluate lymphedema threat.
For instance, L-Dex testing is acknowledged in scientific tips and by nationwide accreditation applications and is a confirmed methodology for stopping lymphedema from progressing to a persistent situation. By looking for early intervention, sufferers can considerably cut back their threat and enhance their long-term high quality of life.
In an interview with CURE, Prentiss mentioned the significance of early intervention for lymphedema following most cancers care. She is the chief medical and fairness officer at Tradition+; chief resilience officer at ENOUGH International; president and chief govt officer at S. Phillips Consulting LLC; and an adjunct assistant professor on the College of Illinois College of Public Well being, in Chicago.
Transcript:
My most important takeaway for sufferers is to advocate for your self. If you have not obtained baseline testing for lymphedema, if nobody has ever measured you with a tape measure, however you have been handled or are in therapy, there’s nonetheless time. Discuss to somebody in your most cancers care staff and say, “Hey, I learn or heard about one thing referred to as lymphedema. Nobody has talked to me about it. I wish to know.” After which, concerning these three questions, you’ll be able to go to livetoday.org. Click on on the tab that claims, “Lymphedema Prevention,” and you may see 4 tabs.
One, “Educate Your Most cancers Care Workforce,” gives you with extra training, which you’ll be able to print out and provides to them, as a result of do not assume everybody caring for you has the identical degree of data. Quantity two additionally offers you these three inquiries to ask your most cancers care staff. Quantity three offers you the chance to seek out out, “Hey, I would like one of the best know-how. I would like this know-how for monitoring. The place can I am going?” The third tab on that web page permits you to enter your zip code and discover out if there is a facility close to you that is doing this particular kind of testing. And lastly, I will say that this medical gadget, the one I used to be speaking about that makes use of BIS know-how, is actually shifting lymphatic care from being reactive to proactive, basically enhancing most cancers survivorship outcomes concerning lymphedema.
L-Dex testing is presently really useful in scientific observe tips globally, and in the US. Nationwide accreditation for breast facilities acknowledges this know-how as evidence-based for managing lymphatic points, solidifying its function not solely in early detection but additionally in prevention.
Sufferers, my fellow sufferers, go on the market and be sure to get examined on a SSOZO gadget. They’re on the market. Discover them. Belief me, you don’t want your life or profession derailed by lymphedema. You’ll be able to forestall it. Be part of that 92% who get early intervention and by no means need to take care of persistent, disabling lymphedema.
Transcript has been edited for readability and conciseness. For extra information on most cancers updates, analysis and training, don’t overlook to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters right here.
