Lymphedema Therapist raises funds for machine that recognises early signs of lymphedema

Robyn Harris from Riverside Massage started a GoFundMe campaign in March 2021 to raise money to buy a 'SOZO' Bioimpedance Spectroscopy, a machine that can detect fluid in the limbs of patients who have had cancer treatment, who also required lymph nodes removed.

Ms Harris said the idea of the machine was that it could pick up changes in fluid levels in the limbs at stage zero, not at stage one where damage had often already occurred.

"Patients have asked me, why can't we pick this up earlier? And the answer is, we can, the technology is here. I'm doing this because I've been seeing people later on in their lymphedema and some of their changes aren't reversible.

"Ideally, a patient would come to see me and we'd set a baseline. Then after they've had an operation and treatment, I can continue monitoring for a period of basically up to five years afterwards. That's when they're at high risk of lymphedema."

Lymphedema is a blockage of the lymphatic system which results in swollen limbs.

Ms Harris said because lymphedema had no cure, the earlier it was picked up, the more treatable it was.

"Once changes have happened after level one, some of them aren't reversible and then that increases your risk of getting cellulitis or skin infections which are really quite bad because the lymphatic system, which is affected by lymphedema, is responsible for amounting the immune response or the cells to fight the infection."

"It improves the health of the limb by detecting the fluid level changes because you can implement treatment earlier. And then when you implement it in that early stage you can prevent 95% of lymphedemas progressing. That's huge," Ms Harris said.

One of Ms Harris' regular patients, 87-year-old Kaye Rose, developed leg lymphedema seven years ago after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Ms Harris visits Ms Rose fortnightly to massage and tape her legs to reduce the swelling of her lymphedema.

"I then do bandaging every day in between seeing Robyn. It's not a pleasant thing to have. It can be very uncomfortable. I'm very sore and my legs ache. I don't recommend it," Ms Rose laughed.

Ms Rose said her legs were "rock hard" if she didn't seek treatment from Ms Harris and that it was a way of finding comfort even though her lymphedema made it difficult for her to walk.

She also added that despite having lung cancer and then being diagnosed with vulva cancer in December 2020 which resulted in two more lymph nodes being removed, she had never been told that she might develop lymphedema.

"To me it was a big surprise, I'd never even heard of it. I always saw people with bandages but just thought they'd had an accident."

"The big thing about Robyn's campaign is that this machine will help. When you get cancer, the machine can check you to see if you will get lymphedema. It can stop it before it gets a hold of you. I've had mine for a few years now, so I have to try and control it."

Once Ms Harris buys the 'SOZO' Bioimpedance Spectroscopy for use at her business she will begin an early detection and intervention program for patients throughout the South West.

"I'm basically starting the first intervention program for lymphedema in the South West ever. Through surveillance, I'll be able to instigate treatment and assess the effectiveness of it sooner.

"So if someone's number goes up too much I can go, okay, we need to treat, which means getting a garment on, doing some massage and some home exercises. Then I bring them back in a month to see how effective that's been."

"People with lymphedema lose productivity, function and often endure pain and suffering. It's also a constant reminder that they've had cancer treatment, leaving it in the back of their minds that they may get cancer again. If we can prevent all this, how much more productive and happier could someone be?"

To date, Ms Harris has raised $16,000 towards her goal of $20,000.

To donate and to find out more, visit Riverside Massage on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Riversideremedialmassage.

"Not only am I trying to fund this machine, I'm trying to educate the community as well. I've done a lot of ground work and some general practitioners don't get significance, saying just go to the physio if you have lymphedema. But this is about detecting it before patients have to have treatment. It's important to recognise the importance of it."