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Learning Beyond Lived Experience: Research, Webinars and Seminars While I used to believe I knew everything about lymphoedema simply because I live with it, years of experience have shown me that I had only just scratched the surface. In 2025, I’ve made it my mission to continue learning and growing on this journey so I feel proactive rather than stagnant in managing my condition. While away with work, I’ve been using my free time to explore recent medical studies, attend onl

Raising Awareness: LymphLine Article In June 2024, I reached out to Karen at the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) to contribute an article to their quarterly newsletter, LymphLine. My aim was to raise awareness of lymphoedema in individuals who don’t fit the typical profile often associated with the condition. I’m deeply passionate about increasing visibility for younger people living with primary or secondary lymphoedema as I’ve found this demographic to be significantly un

5 Years Post LVA: What Surgery Did (and Didn’t) Do Following the surgery, my leg’s swelling rapidly reduced to just 2–3cm excess and 14% volume difference when I was next measured for compression garments. Initially, I was amazed by the results. However, being completely honest, the swelling has gradually rebounded over time. One year post-surgery, my excess measured around 20%. Two years after, it increased to 24–27%. Now, at the five-year mark, it has returned to approximat

Surgical Solutions: Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis Surgery Following the detailed ICG and Lymphoscintigraphy scans, it was confirmed that the most suitable and effective treatment for my current lymphoedema is Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis (LVA) surgery at the Oxford Lymphoedema Practice. My surgery day began promptly at 10am, after completing necessary documentation and consent forms. The team started with another ICG test, injecting infra-red dye to map the functional lympha

Navigating Lymphoedema in the Performing Arts: Challenges and Determination As a dancer living with lymphoedema, my greatest concern is how this condition might impact my career. The performing arts industry is notoriously focused on appearance, fitting specific roles and adhering to shallow aesthetic standards. While I’m inspired by the possibility of becoming a role model, showing others that lymphoedema doesn’t have to limit your dreams, there are moments when the reality