March 2025 is Lymphoedema Awareness month. This is an important time to raise awareness about lymphoedema, a condition that affects many Australians but often goes undiagnosed. At Superpharmacyplus we want to join in raising awareness to support individuals affected by this condition and to promote effective management and treatment.

Key Dates:

• 6 March 2025: World Lymphoedema Day
• 3-9 March 2025: Lymphoedema Awareness Week
• March 2025: Lymphoedema Awareness Month

At Super Pharmacy Plus, we understand the unique needs of individuals living with lymphoedema. Our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and resources:

What is Lymphoedema? Lymphoedema is a chronic and permanent swelling of one or more body parts due to malfunction of the lymphatic system, which results in the accumulation of excess fluid. Lymphoedema can be primary, due to a malformation of the lymphatic system, or secondary resulting from damage to the lymphatic system due to cancer, trauma or otherwise. Left untreated, this condition will cause increasing health issues for the individual (AIHW).

Symptoms of Lymphoedema:

Common symptoms include;

• A feeling of heaviness in the affected area
• The skin feels tight – clothing, jewellery, or shoes may feel tighter
• Painful or stiff joints
• Swelling of the affected area
• Poor skin health localised to the area

Prevalence in Australia According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), lymphoedema is often underdiagnosed and misunderstood within primary health care leading to an underestimation of its prevalence. According to the AIHW, there is currently no population-level estimate for the number of people in Australia living with lymphoedema. However, in 2021, there were 9,400 hospitalisations for lymphoedema.

Interesting Fact: Prolonged untreated swelling resulting from other causes or conditions (e.g. venous disease) can overload and damage the lymphatic system, leading to secondary lymphoedema—a fact that is not widely known.

Shine A Light on Lymphoedema Campaign: To raise awareness, the Lymphoedema Association Australia’s "Shine A Light on Lymphoedema" campaign will see landmarks across Australia lighting up in blue. Some of the participating landmarks in Brisbane include:

• Brisbane City Hall
• Story Bridge
• Victoria Bridge
• King George Square
• MBRC Redcliffe Administration Building
• Caboolture Hub
• Gateway Bridge

A full list of participating landmarks can be found at the LAA Website

Effective treatment of lymphoedema involves a combination of therapies known as Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy (DLT). This includes;

• manual lymphatic drainage,
• compression therapy,
• exercise,
• and skin care.

These treatments work together to reduce swelling, improve lymphatic flow, and maintain skin integrity. We recommend contacting a trained Lymphoedema Therapist like our resident Occupational Therapist, Larissa Westhuyzen for proper treatment. You can find an accredited Lymphoedema therapist on the Australasian Lymphology Association website.

Products to Treat Lymphoedema
At SuperPharmacyPlus, we work hard to support accessibility to quality, affordable products to help manage lymphoedema effectively. Here is a list of products you may find useful. Scroll our website for more. https://superpharmacyplus.com.au/compression-stockings/

Compression Garments:

• Bella Lite
• Bella Strong
• Circaid Wraps
• Ulcer Care

Note: We have a large range of off the shelf class 1-3 circular knit, flat knit and wrap compression available to our customers. Need something specialised? We regularly special order night garments and specialised garments. Speak to our staff today about how you can get what you need.

Skin Care:

• Epaderm
• QV intensive

• Ezy As
• Textured Gloves
• Arion
• Arion Magnide
• Donjoy wire frame

Exercise Modalities:

• Reflex ball (to soften fibrotic tissue)