LVA for secondary lymphodema

[Lauradette]

Does anyone know if the NHS are still doing Lva on the NHS with a gp referral?

[Lynora]

Contact LSN - they may have more accurate information and contact details - 0207 351 4480 (weekdays) or email [e-mail]

[christinej1950]

Regrettably LVA has never been freely available on the NHS. If you have lymphodema as a result of cancer surgery and are already treated at the Marsden you may qualify, there is a surgeon there who carries it out. There are very strict criteria. I believe there are a couple of others, Essex and Wales, but don't know details. I had it done privately at the end of April at the Oxford Lymphodema Clinic. They may well know who is doing it on the NHS. It's too soon to say whether my surgery has been a success. I developed LD two years after breast cancer surgery. It takes months to see results. I can confidently say though that it hasn't got any worse. However I only had a mild case, and it was caught very early. Good luck.

[Lauradette in reply to christinej1950]

Thanks Christine, yes my lymphodema is due to lymph node removal from having melanoma, had my lymph nodes removed in 2008 and mine has only occurred last year but wasn't treated at the royal marsden unfortunately! Thanks for the info, will keep on looking and will go see my Gp anyway!

[christinej1950]

Depending on where you live, you may find it useful to go to Oxford Lymphodema Clinic and have ICG fluroscopy where they can map the damage. That's what I did, and luckily was suitable to have LCA surgery. Again it's not available on the NHS, but as you've not had it very long they should be able to give you some idea of how to slow progression. We cashed in a pension. The two surgeons, Dominic and Alex, are extremely knowlegeable and helpful. Btw, I have no connection with OLC other than as a patient! Again, good luck. It's a horrible condition, I was devastated when I developed it.