My name’s Rianne Davis and I’m a Macmillan university teacher at the University of Glasgow.

Lymphoedema is best managed by a combination of four main aspects

and that’s good skincare, massage, exercise

and some sort of containing it so that it can’t swell anymore.

The compression garments are things that you need to be measured up for

so again, the specialist nurse or specialist physiotherapist will measure your limb

or whichever part of your body and prescribe a particular garment for you.

Once you’re happy that this is comfortable and that it’s feeling right for you

then they’ll supply you with more than one.

The most important thing of all is to prevent infections, because that really does make it worse

so avoiding scratches and bites from kittens and puppies

thorn scratches in the garden

so wearing gardening gloves or wearing rubber gloves when doing washing up

things that avoid trauma to your skin.

Similarly, on a summer’s evening, making sure that you wear long sleeves or long trousers

so that the skin doesn’t get bitten by a small fly.

Skincare for lymphoedema is good cleaning with a neutral soap

so not one that’s too acidic or heavily perfumed.

And then moisturising the skin, keeping skin supple so that it doesn’t become dry or flaky

so that it doesn’t tear, because the one thing we’re trying to avoid is any germs going into the skin

and causing an infection, this would really make the lymphoedema worse.

The exercises are very simple exercises

and it’s just a case of trying to keep the circulation going in that limb regularly through the day

so if it was an arm we would just recommend fist-clenching

elbow-flexing and some movements of the shoulders.

Massage is also useful, but this is something that you learn in a specialist clinic or from the specialist nurse

and there are also helpful diagrams in the Macmillan leaflet on lymphoedema.

A few people will need more intensive treatment

and this will be done in a lymphoedema specialist clinic.

Again it’s the same four components

but this time the lymphoedema specialist will do a prolonged, very specialised massage for the lymphoedema

if it’s necessary.

Bandaging may be necessary, and this is to reshape the limb and to improve the condition of the skin

and then it may be that specialised garments may need to be made, very specifically made to measure.

There are some specialist clinics that will offer other treatments

these may include laser to soften up the tissues

they may involve a special form of taping such as athletes use

but this is to drain fluid away from the swollen area to a healthier part of the body.

And then for a very small percentage of people

it may be appropriate that they’re referred to a surgeon who may offer some of the very newest techniques or even liposuction

but this isn’t the sort of liposuction that’s used in beauty clinics

but a very particular form of liposuction for lymphoedema.

There are a lot of new treatments coming along through the research for lymphoedema now

and these include things like hyperbaric oxygen, which is very promising but not yet readily available

and even acupuncture but there’s a bit more research needs doing on these before they’ll become generally available.

Coping with how lymphoedema makes you feel is sometimes the worst part of lymphoedema

in that it’s something other people can see

where perhaps you were able to hide that fact that you had the cancer in the first place.

And it can also cause functional problems like just the difficulties of brushing your hair

or washing yourself and getting dressed

and those things can get you down when it’s day after day.

These are things that it’s worth speaking to somebody about and getting the support that you need early on.

If you find the lymphoedema is affecting your ability to do your work or everyday life

then it may be worth contacting the Macmillan helpline

there’s a whole host of information and advice there that may help you.

It doesn’t have to have a major impact on your life

you can feel normal again, just seek the advice that you need early on and learn how to manage it for yourself.

For information, help, or if you just want to chat

call the Macmillan support line on 0808 808 00 00

or visit macmillan.org.uk