Millions of people across the world are affected by lymphoedema. Physical treatments commonly combine skin care, compression therapy, exercise and manual lymphatic drainage. Increasingly, surgery has been recognised as providing benefits for some individuals with lymphoedema, although the evidence is still limited. This article overviews lymphoedema types and treatments, discusses different surgical approaches for people with lymphoedema, and the implications for community nurses.
Dr Anne Williams Nurse Consultant/ Researcher, Esk Lymphology, Midlothian
Article accepted for publication: January 2012
Anne Williams explores the issue of cancer survivorship from the perspective of women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. The article examines three specific aspects relevant to breast cancer and its treatment: fatigue; psychological distress; and lymphoedema. It considers the implications for health professionals such as community nurses in supporting women who are living with and beyond breast cancer.
Anne F Williams, Macmillan Teaching Fellow, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN
Article accepted for publication: October 2011
Rosemary Pudner considers the issues involved when managing a patient with a leg ulcer.
Rosemary Pudner discusses the special needs of patients who have a fungating or malignant wound.
Lynfa Edwards discusses compression bandaging in the treatment of venous leg ulcers
Jan Hammett gives a descriptive account about how a series of ten palliative care workshops highlighted the need for more accessible education in the field of palliative care.
Lynfa Edwards discusses some issues which can prevent the recurrence of venous leg ulcers.
Patricia Grocott presents a critical review of fungating wound management from a community perspective, using case study data from her study into the palliative management of fungating wounds.
Patricia Grocott PhD, BSc (Hons),
Dip.N (Lond), RGN, Research Associate, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, Kings College Hospital, London.
Article accepted for publication November 1999.
Gill Ward takes us through the theory and assessment of cancer pain
Gill Ward RGN, RSCN, ENB237, ENB998 is a Macmillan Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Wirral.
Article accepted for publication May 2000
