Perspectives

Insights from patients, support groups and surgeons

Patients

Patients are unhappy with their care pathway and suffer a poor quality of life.

“I was not told about the risk of developing BCRL. Having known then what I know now, I would have wanted FaciliFlow implanted during surgery to prevent this condition.”
“My BCRL is painful and a constant reminder of my breast cancer. It forced me into early retirement.”
“My son feels sick when I use my lymphoedema pump. It’s a reminder to him that his mum had breast cancer.”
“Even though I’m still suffering, my treatment has been reduced because of healthcare budget cuts.”

“Why is nothing being done
about my BCRL?”

Support Groups

Carers and clinicians are demanding new solutions that better address patients’ needs.

“For every £1 spent on preventing lymphoedema damage, society saves £100 in reduced hospital admissions.”
— Macmillan Cancer Support
“We need new strategies to tackle BCRL, and prevention is an absolute top priority.”
— British Lymphology Society
“We seek to accelerate the prevention, treatments and cures for lymphoedema.”
— Lymphatic Education & Research Network

Surgeons

Surgeons often have a low awareness of BCRL or do not catch BCRL due to poor follow-up.

“BCRL cases are going down due to early diagnosis and changes in surgical techniques.”
“Large groups of breast cancer patients still face high risks of an extremely debilitating condition.”