EveryBodyCan… get to know the BLS

Recently freed up from her duties as chair of the BLS Scientific Committee, BAcC Fellow Beverley de Valois is now working to build bridges between the BLS and the BAcC.

Beverley de Valois

BAcC Fellow: Middlesex

The British Lymphology Society (BLS) is a dynamic and innovative body providing a strong professional voice and support for those involved in the care and treatment of people with lymphoedema and related lymphatic disorders, including lipoedema.

As well as seeking to achieve high standards of care and equitable access to treatment across the UK, the BLS aims to promote professional standards in lymphoedema care and treatment. You could say that the BLS is to lymphoedema what the BAcC is to acupuncture in the UK.

What is lymphoedema?

Lymphoedema results from a failure of the lymphatic system. Consequences are swelling, skin and tissue changes and predisposition to infection. It most commonly affects the arms or legs, but may also affect other parts of the body such as the head and neck, trunk, breasts or genitalia. It may be: • primary, that is, an abnormality in the lymphatic system present from birth or • secondary, that is, resulting from damage to a normally functioning lymphatic system: damage may be caused by surgery, trauma, radiotherapy or infection in areas that are rich in nodes and vessels, for example the axilla, groin, pelvis and around joints

It is a chronic condition for which there is currently no cure and requires specialist management.

Why should acupuncturists be interested?

Lymphoedema affects 400,000 people in the UK. This exceeds UK prevalence rates for Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and HIV. One in five women treated for breast cancer will develop lymphoedema, as will one in two women treated for vulval cancer and one in three men treated for penile cancer. As well as being associated with other cancers “Lymphoedema “Lymphoedema such as melanoma and doesn’t stop me doesn’t stop me doing head and neck cancers, lymphoedema is a doing a lap or two of the pool each week” leg flexes while watching the football” condition that affects One of the best ways to stop lymphoedema from developing or getting worse is to keep moving. There are One of the best ways to stop lymphoedema from developing or getting worse is to keep moving. There are people with vascular lots of easy ways to build safe movement into your day. Go to thebls.com to find the one that’s right for you. PLATINUM SPONSOR lots of easy ways to build safe movement into your day. Go to thebls.com to find the one that’s right for you. PLATINUM SPONSOR disease and other chronic #EveryBodyCan #EveryBodyCan diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

So, acupuncturists are probably seeing What is EveryBodyCan? many people with lymphoedema. EveryBodyCan is the BLS strategic In general, the condition is campaign; its 2020 theme was ACTIVITY. underdiagnosed, not well understood, The campaign sought to reassure and often inadequately treated. It will patients and practitioners that becoming give the acupuncture profession an more active is beneficial for people advantage if they can recognise with lymphoedema. It emphasised the condition, know when to that regardless of ability and baseline refer, and develop working fitness, there is something enjoyable partnerships with that EVERYBODY can do to improve the lymphoedema specialists performance of their lymphatic system. and clinics. We should As part of the 2020 campaign, I want to become part of presented a paper ‘Lymphoedema the multidisciplinary Acupuncture Activity’ at the 7th management of this National Lymphoedema Conference in distressing condition. London in February (remember those free and easy pre-Covid days?). This was What can based on research I did some years ago acupuncturists do? investigating the use of acupuncture While the evidence for and moxibustion to improve wellbeing whether acupuncture and self-management for people with can treat lymphoedema is lymphoedema. I wanted to revive inconclusive, there is so much the findings of this study, to make we have to offer. As we all know, lymphoedema professionals aware acupuncture is amazing for managing of how having acupuncture improves chronic conditions. People with wellbeing, increases energy and lymphoedema can experience many motivation, and helps people to become unpleasant symptoms in addition to more active in their self-care 〉 https:// swelling and tissue fibrosis, including tinyurl.com/1h41n8qc discomfort, sleep problems, lack of confidence, lack of motivation, We can see this from these patient depression – all of which can be testimonials: addressed by acupuncture. ‘I’ve joined Weight Watchers, I’m

really being positive about this and I’m really working on my exercises for the lymphoedema, I’m really working hard… and I honestly say this is the acupuncture and the moxibustion… it changed the way I thought about myself.’ 004 BC: research participant with breast cancer treatment related lymphoedema

‘The improved sleep has given me more energy and motivated me to take on more exercise to increase my mobility. On a recent visit to the lymphoedema clinic on examination there was a marked reduction in the size of my legs.’ ‘Faye’: patient with primary lower limb lymphoedema

EveryBodyCan for 2021

Such is the importance of movement and activity for lymphatic drainage and function that the BLS is extending this theme in their 2021 campaign.

My goal for the 2021 campaign is to build bridges between the BAcC and the BLS. My plan is to: • increase awareness amongst lymphoedema professionals of the role acupuncture can play in improving the care and treatment of people with lymphoedema: I have published two papers for the BLS membership on this subject • increase awareness amongst the BAcC of lymphoedema and encourage a well-informed approach to managing this condition: this article is one activity to support this, and later I hope to publish a paper in

EJOM about lymphoedema

The Secret Weapon

A subtheme of the 2021 BLS campaign is ‘The Secret Weapon’. A secret weapon can be an inanimate object that helps people to become more active. So it can even be an acupuncture needle!

I want to have more people with lymphoedema saying that acupuncture is their secret weapon. And to have more lymphoedema professionals saying that their relationship with their local acupuncturist is their best secret weapon!

Lymphoedema Awareness Week

Even though this issue of Acu. just misses this year’s Lymphoedema Awareness Week (LAW) from 1 to 6 March, the BLS maintain that lymphoedema awareness continues year round. So here are some activities to develop that lymphoedema awareness during 2021 – for acupuncturists and for their patients.

Get active! Become a Friend of the BLS

Start getting active and interact with the lymphoedema community.

The BLS are keen to support healthcare professionals who are not specialist lymphoedema practitioners to learn more about lymphoedema and enhance the care of people with, or at risk of, lymphoedema.

To do this, they have made a tier of FREE membership – Friend of the BLS. There is no fee and no catch, and here is what is on offer: • keep in touch with what is happening in lymphoedema/chronic oedema, for example, the BLS have recently sent its membership coronavirus vaccine information, invaluable for all healthcare practitioners and patients alike: • ‘...anyone with lymphoedema of the arm is advised to get the vaccine in the opposite arm or thigh. This advice also applies to those who do not have lymphoedema but who have been treated for breast cancer.

They should request the vaccine in the opposite arm from their breast cancer treatment. If they have had lymph nodes removed or treated on both sides, the injection should be in the thigh or buttocks.’ (BLS email, 10

February 2021) • automatic notifications when new events or resources are posted on the website, as long as you opt in to communications • free quarterly newsletter – News and

Views – in electronic format, as long as you opt in to receive this • access to some regional meetings – a great way to start building relationships with local lymphoedema specialists • free access to selected resources and information material (see CPD below) • access to webinars for a small subscription

To join, scroll to the bottom of this page and register 〉 thebls.com/membership

Do some lymphoedema CPD

Find out more about lymphoedema. Take four minutes to watch this video introducing lymphoedema

Access the ‘Lymph Facts’ information sheets. These are fabulous for finding out more about lymphoedema, how it is managed, and can be helpful for working with patients who have or are at risk of lymphoedema. Here are four examples: • What is lymphoedema? 〉  tinyurl.com/1kup6l7t • Activity and exercise 〉  tinyurl.com/1l5h2qz4 • What information, advice and support should be provided for those at risk of lymphoedema? 〉  tinyurl.com/3yafp52v • Who has a predisposition to lymphoedema and why? 〉  tinyurl.com/5zt0pgp9

Find out more about using acupuncture in the management of lymphoedema. Watch this four-minute clip from the BAcC film ‘To the Point’, made possible courtesy of the BAcC. This video provides perspectives from a woman with BCRL, a lymphoedema nurse specialist, and a researcher/practitioner of acupuncture (yours truly) 〉  youtu.be/0ZgzrFwuiBY

Increase awareness of lymphoedema amongst colleagues and friends. Download materials from the EveryBodyCan page, which has useful information about activities for people with or at risk of lymphoedema – great for lifestyle advice 〉 thebls.com/pages/ everybodycan

Get tooled up!

Let’s make acupuncture everybody’s best secret weapon in the management of lymphoedema!

British Lymphology Society 〉 01452 790178 〉 www.thebls.com

BLS SC members for 2020 and beyond, left to right: Dr Beverley de Valois, outgoing chair; Dr Malou van Zanten; Dr Rhian Noble-Jones, incoming chair; Rebecca Elwell, conference organiser; Dr Kristiana Gordon; Eunice Jeffs; Dr Ambreen Chohan; Cara Cole, honorary member; Emma Underwood; Justine Whittaker