Coping with lymphoedema

Adjusting to life with lymphoedema

Lymphoedema can affect your body and mind, so it’s important to look after your wellbeing. Having lymphoedema can affect how you feel about yourself (self-esteem) in several ways, including:

Body image – You may feel self-conscious about the swelling and how you look. Or you may have trouble finding suitable clothes and footwear, which can also affect how you feel about yourself.

Sex and intimacy – You may lose interest in sex, or you may feel that any visible changes make you less attractive and worry others will reject you.

Anxiety and depression – You may feel overwhelmed by the ongoing treatment and by the permanent reminder of having had cancer.

Social isolation – You may avoid work and social activities because of concern about how you look or because you find it difficult to move around.

Give yourself time to get used to any physical changes. You may experience a variety of emotions, including anger, anxiety and resentment. Everyone has their own way of coping with their emotions. Some people find it helpful to talk with family and friends, while others seek professional help from a counsellor or psychologist. You may find it helpful to join a support group to talk with other people who are dealing with lymphoedema.

For more information, see Sex, intimacy and cancer and Emotions and cancer.

Help paying for treatment

Treatment for lymphoedema – including seeing lymphoedema practitioners and buying compression garments – can be expensive.

There are options to help with these costs:

• If your GP refers you to a lymphoedema practitioner as part of a chronic condition management plan, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for up to 5 visits a year.
• Compression garment subsidy schemes are run by all state and territory governments. There are also some federal subsidies through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. These schemes cover some, or all, of the cost of compression garments. People with permanent and significant disability may be eligible for support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. For more information, visit the Australasian Lymphology Association.
• If you have private health insurance, check with your provider whether your policy covers lymphoedema therapy and compression garments.