Resources and organisations for lymphoedema

A charitable membership body of health care professionals with an interest in the care and support of people with lymphoedema. Their resources include a directory of lymphoedema specialist practitioners.

Tel: 01452 790 178

Find out about The British Lymphology Society

A registered charity that aims to improve understanding, awareness and knowledge of lymphoedema. They actively contribute to the improvement of the management of lymphoedema worldwide, especially in developing countries. They have a number of booklets that you can download free of charge. 

Email: contact@lympho.org

International Lymphoedema Framework website

LymphConnect provides online support to help you manage your lymphoedema or lipoedema. You can share experiences and get tips and information. They also provide details on events and conferences.  

Email support@lymphconnect.co.uk

LymphConnect website

A national charity offering information and support to anyone affected by lymphoedema. It has local support groups, a helpline and a website. It also produces a range of information including factsheets about lymphoedema and its treatment, videos about self management techniques for lymphoedema, and a newsletter.

Telephone: 020 7351 4480 Email: admin@lsn.org.uk

Visit the Lymphoedema Support Network website

LymphVision is a private clinic that provides specialised lymphoedema assessment through fluoroscopy guided mapping of the lymphatics in real-time.

Telephone:  0330 010 1318

Email:  clinic@lymphvision.com

LymphVision

MLD UK promotes public awareness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) from the point of view of both the patient and practitioners for people with lymphoedema. They publish a register of MLD practitioners.

Telephone: 0844 800 1988 Email: admin@mlduk.org.uk

MLD UK

Provides support, advice and help in various ways to people affected by chronic pain and those close to them.

Tel: 01362 820750 PainLine 0845 6031593 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm) Email: aopisat@btinternet.com

Action on Pain website

A support group for anyone who suffers from chronic pain. They deliver self management training to help people with chronic pain.

Freephone: 0800 783 6059 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm) Email: info@painassociation.com

Pain Association Scotland website

Offers information and support to people with pain and those who care for them. They run a helpline staffed by volunteers, and have an online forum called HealthUnlocked for members to share experiences. You can listen to podcasts which feature interviews with experts and people who are managing their pain. You can also subscribe to their magazine, Pain Matters.

Telephone: 0131 669 5951 Helpline: 0300 123 0789 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm) Email: help@painconcern.org.uk

Pain Concern website

Breast Cancer Now is a charity dedicated to funding breast cancer research. They also provide breast cancer information and support across the UK. Services are free and include a helpline, website, publications, and practical and emotional support. It was formed by the merger of The Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2015. 

6th Floor The White Chapel Building 10 Whitechapel High Street London E1 8QS

Tel: 0333 20 70 300 E-mail: hello@breastcancernow.org Ask a nurse: Contact form  

Find out about Breast Cancer Now

Changing Faces

Changing Faces provide support and information for people who have any form of facial disfigurement including disfigurement caused by cancer. They also provide a skin camouflage service for people in England and Scotland. Trained volunteers teach people how to apply specialist cover creams.

Phone: 0300 0120 275 (support and advice line) Head office email: info@changingfaces.org.uk

The contact details for the skin camouflage service are:

Phone: 0300 0120 276 Email: skincam@changingfaces.org.uk

Visit the Changing Faces website

This organisation offers support to people affected by melanoma. It has a free phone line available 24 hours a day that is run by volunteers who have personal experience of melanoma. It also has a network of people affected by melanoma who you can be put in touch with. It organises support meetings every few months at various places in the UK.

Tel: 0808 171 2455

Find out about Melanoma UK

Sarcoma UK funds research and supports people with bone or soft tissue sarcomas. They provide information,, support network and a sarcoma clinical trials hub

Support line: Freephone 0808 801 0401 Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm Text support line: 07860058830 Email: supportline@sarcoma.org.uk 

Sarcoma UK website

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care. They provide booklets on cancer and treatments and run a helpline providing cancer information and benefits advice.

Phone: 0808 808 0000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm – information available in other languages) Textphone: 0808 808 0121

Macmillan Cancer Support website

General Medical Helpline: 020 8994 9874 (Monday to Friday, 6pm to 8pm) Email: office@medicaladvisoryservice.org.uk

The Medical Advisory Service offers information and advice on medical and health care matters.

Medical Advisory Service website

For general health advice and information.

NHS Choices website

Confidential telephone health advice and information service for people in Scotland.

NHS Helpline: 0800 22 44 88 (8am to 10pm – for details of pharmacies, GP practices and dentists in Scotland. Can also give information about illnesses, treatments and NHS services)

NHS 24 Helpline: 08454 24 24 24 (for when you are feeling ill and your doctor's surgery is closed)

NHS 24 website

NHS 111 gives information if you need fast medical help but its not a 999 emergency.

Phone: 111

NHS 111 website

Offers mobility aids at low cost to help both elderly people and disabled adults and children. Has an extensive range of daily living aids and disability equipment. 

Phone: 0845 5194734, Monday to Friday, 9am to  5pm – local rates apply from a landline Mobile number: 01772 675 040

Complete Care Shop website

This is an online shop for daily living equipment for the disabled community, older people, or those who look after people with difficulty getting around.

Email: contact@essentialaids.com Phone: 01273 719 889

Essential Aids website

Eto Garments ApS is a company in Denmark that develops and manufactures high quality compression and support bandages.

Telephone:  + 45 64 46 13 30

Email:  sales@eto-garments.com

ETO

Haddenham Healthcare is a company specialising in the treatment of lymphoedema, chronic oedema and wound care.

Telephone:  01844 208842

Email:  sales@hadhealth.com

Haddenham Healthcare

Kinesio UK provides various training courses in kinesio taping as well as kinesio tape products.

Tel:  0191 2877008

Kinesio UK

LympheDIVAs is an American company that provides high quality, medical arm sleeves, gauntlets and gloves for lymphoedema. The garments are fashionable with a variety of different patterns. 

LympheDIVAs

Medi UK Ltd is a manufacturer and supplier of medical compression garments for lymphoedema.

Telephone:  01432 373500

Email:  enquiries@mediuk.co.uk

Medi UK Ltd

Provides information about the help and therapy available for sexual difficulties.

Telephone: 020 8543 2707 Email: info@cosrt.org.uk

College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists website

This organisation provides a telephone helpline staffed by nurses. They can give you information and advice about all aspects of prostate cancer, including erection problems.

Telephone: 0800 074 8383 (Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Wednesday 7pm to 9pm)

Prostate Cancer UK website

Offers private and confidential counselling, and psychosexual therapy to help with relationship problems.

Telephone: 0300 100 1234

Relate website

Information on sexual problems. They provide lists of local specialist practitioners, as well as factsheets on problems such as erectile dysfunction (impotence).

Telephone 020 7486 7262 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am to 5pm) Email: info@sexualadviceassociation.co.uk  

The Sexual Advice Association website

A Bloch and others American Cancer Society, 2010 ISBN 978-0944235782

An American book but most of the information is relevant to the UK. It covers issues such as preventing weight loss and coping with dehydration, fatigue, and infection. It also discusses eating problems and digestion issues, such as swallowing problems, feeling sick and dealing with mouth sores. Focuses on survivorship and how to eat well after treatment.

A Ko, E Rosenbaum and M Dollinger Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2009 ISBN 9780740786310

The author and contributors of this book are all American cancer specialists. The book covers how cancer is diagnosed, treated and managed day to day.

Jane Freeman Sheldon Press, 2012 ISBN 978-1847091413

Written by a cancer dietitian, this is a practical handbook for people with cancer. Filled with helpful tips and recipes.

Dr P Mortimer and‎ G Levine Elliott & Thompson, 2017 ISBN 1783962852

Explains the causes and symptoms of lymphoedema. Describes treatments, including massage, exercise, and compression garments. It also has information about coping day-to-day with lymphoedema.

J F Kelvin and L B Tyson Jones and Bartlett Publishing, 2010 ISBN 978-0763777609

An American book which gives both doctor’s and patient’s views on coping with the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of treatment. It has information about treatment for pain, nausea, tiredness, and other symptoms.

SL Rose and RT Hara Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2009 ISBN 0763762571

An American book which gives information about caring for someone with cancer, including how to support them when they have symptoms or side effects.

S Kydd and D Rowett Big Think Media, 2006 ISBN 0978810805

A responsible guide featuring personal stories and expert voices. Intimacy after Cancer takes an in-depth look at how women respond to, deal with, and overcome barriers to intimacy after a life-changing cancer diagnosis.

Macmillan Cancer Support

This booklet offers information to young people about all aspects of sex and relationships and discusses the effects of cancer treatment on fertility. It also has coping strategies and options for fertility treatment in people whose fertility is affected. Available free to people affected by cancer from Macmillan Cancer Support by calling 0808 500 800.

Ian Banks J H Haynes & Co Ltd, 2009 ISBN 978-1844258086

A practical guide to sexual health and enjoyment.

Sexual Advice Association

This booklet aims to help cancer patients and their partners understand sexual difficulties that may happen after cancer and ways of overcoming them. Available on the Sexual Advice Association website.