Monique Bareham, 2022 SA Local Hero and Lymphoedema Patient Advocate

In 2012 Monique Bareham received a cancer diagnosis. She was left with cancer-treatment related lymphoedema – a chronic, debilitating and incurable condition caused by damage to the lymphatic system.

Lymphoedema is a condition that can cause significant arm or leg swelling due to fluid build-up. This can occur when the lymphatic system, which drains excess fluid, is damaged due to cancer treatment. Monique Bareham shares her experience with cancer treatment-related lymphoedema and why screening is essential.

“What I would wish for all patients and what I, in hindsight wished had happened to me, was that all patients who are at risk of developing cancer treatment related lymphedema would be aware of the risk.

There is more research that needs to be done, but what we do know is that breast cancer patients have about a one in five chance of developing lymphedema in their lifetime. Up to 50% of gynecological cancer patients survivors up to 75% of head and neck cancer patient survivors, and up to 30% of melanoma patient survivors.”

What is a baseline assessment and why is it important?

What we do know is that early intervention, early monitoring and early assessment is key to getting better patient outcomes. So what that means is, and what I wished had happened to me was as soon as I'd been diagnosed and before I even had surgery, I should have received a baseline assessment for lymphedema.

It's really easy. It's quick, it's non-invasive. At Lift, they've got a really fabulous protocol in place for that. So it's a simple measurement on what's called a SOZO machine and it will give you an assessment. So if you start developing symptoms, swelling or pain, you can speak to your clinician and they can review your reading from the SOZO. If you have increased your levels on the SOZO by a certain amount, that might indicate an early stage lymphoedema and there may be some intervention that is right for you.

How is lymphoedema managed?

Intervention for lymphoedema could be some very specific exercises. It might be some light compression garments, and they would be prescribed to you by your clinician. You may need some physio, you may need some manual lymphatic drainage - a very specific massage that's for helping lymphatic flow. You may need to revisit what's going on with those garments. There could be some different types of garments you might need to wear.

Are there preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk of developing lymphoedema

There are some preventative measures that you can take to help reduce your risk of lymphoedema.

The first thing is know if you are someone who is at risk. That's a really important thing to be aware of. I really suggest that you ask your clinician straight out, '“am I a patient who will be or could be at risk of developing cancer treatment related lymphedema.”

What is your message to patients and clinicians?

The message from my heart to patients who may be at risk of developing lymphoedema is to be empowered to ask about and find out about your risk factors and what you should do.

The message from my heart to our clinicians is to please provide our patients with that information so that they can be empowered to also take care of their early stage symptoms and take care of their lymphedema. Should it happen.