health education on lymphoedema for patients & practitioners
We empower you to learn about lymphoedema
What is lymphoedema?
Lymphoedema (also spelled as lymphedema) impacts millions worldwide. It is a condition involving long-term tissue swelling occurring when the lymphatic system fails to work properly.[1] Poor management of lymphoedema can have detrimental effects on a person's physical and psychological wellbeing. Pain, heaviness and discomfort are frequent symptoms.
learn in comfort
Relax with a warm cup of tea & start learning at your own pace.
trusted educators
Professor Piller, Andrea Mangion & patients living with lymphoedema.
evidence-based
We provide current, easy to understand, information in entertaining online courses.
Choose from three online courses
CANdetect:
I have breast cancer
Designed to help breast cancer patients understand the factors that can cause lymphoedema before swelling occurs.
CANmanage:
I have lymphoedema
Designed to help primary & secondary lymphoedema patients learn from fellow patient's experiences.
CANtreat:
I am a practitioner
Designed for health professionals to learn about the management of primary & secondary lymphoedema.
Why did we create HELP Online?
Scientific studies have reported that patients have struggled to find help for their lymphoedema. Cancer patients, at risk of lymphoedema, have reported not being warned about the risk of developing lymphoedema and receiving inappropriate advice. A diagnosis of primary lymphoedema has been shown to take over 6 years! [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Our mission is to empower patients and health professionals through knowledge. HELP Online has created affordable, easy to access, entertaining, current, evidence-based online courses presented with the expertise of Professor Neil Piller (Professor of Lymphology, Flinders University), Andrea Mangion (Titled Cancer and Lymphoedema Physiotherapist, Australian Physiotherapy Association) and patients living with lymphoedema.
When should I learn?
All forms of lymphoedema are best treated early. Lymphoedema progresses through 4 stages (0,1,2,3) from swelling that cannot be detected to the eye to very swollen tissues with marked skin changes.
Breast cancer-related lymphoedema has been shown to have a degree of reversibilty in Stage 0 lymphoedema. At this stage it is known as "subclinical" meaning that we know that the lymphatic system is damaged but we are intervening before the onset of obvious symptoms. Lymphoedema education, compression garments, exercise and self-lymphatic drainage are recommended. [7, 8, 9, 10]
Leading lymphoedema advocacy organisations recommend that "all patients treated for breast cancer" have
access to "an educational program informing them about lymphoedema" [11] and "all patients receive risk reduction guidelines prior to treatment."[12] Our CANdetect course was designed based on these recommendations.
We support the Flinders Foundation
The Flinders Foundation does wonderful things for cancer patients and they have kindly supported the Flinders University Lymphoedema Service. A small donation from every course goes towards the Flinders Foundation to further their wonderful work. You can also make a donation to the Flinders Foundation by visiting their website.
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