47yr Old Female Stage III Lymphedema
JoAnna Burgess RN
This 47-year-old female presented with stage III lymphedema to the
right leg. She states her edema began nine years prior after receiving
treatment for cervical cancer. Her treatment in 1987 included a
partial hysterectomy and radiation therapy. She had metastasis to the
spine, which was also treated with radiation. She had two
hospitalizations for cellulitis. She experienced lymph fluid leakage
from the pores of her skin.
47 year old - female
s/p Cervical Cancer
Treated with surgery and radiation 1989
She initially was treated with pump therapy but found it unsuccessful
and states it caused her pain.
In January of this year she sought treatment through Joanna Burgess RN
of Lymphodynamics II in North Carolina. Her treatment plan included
Complete Decongestive Therapy and the ReidSleeve®. To date she has
responded extremely well to treatment showing an approximately 50%
reduction (see graph).
The patient has been followed very closely utilizing our EdemaCalc®
system. Measurements are sent in on a regular basis and entered into
our program. A graph is then produced depicting the progress. This
graph is presented to the therapist for review and assistance in
determining ongoing treatment or adjustments to the current treatment
plan. As you can see by her graph, the progress was slow at first, and
subsequent adjustments were made to her treatment plan. Higher and
lower graphical readings further assist in suggesting when a change of
treatment is indicated and whether it was affective or not.
She will continue with her treatment and we will update her condition
and progress. She has just ordered the OptiFlowEC® to enhance her
bandaging. Where she is wearing her ReidSleeve in-between treatments
and at night, she is bandaging during the intensive portion of her
therapy. During this time she will utilize our OptiFlowEC to optimize
the bandaging.
We are excited about her progress to date and are delighted that she
was willing to share her history and subsequent quest for treatment.
We thank Joanna Burgess for providing such thorough data and the
opportunity to present this case.
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