Lymphedema shouldn’t stop life

PARKTOWN – Professor Elias Ndobe who is part of the surgical team at the hospital, defined lymphedema as the swelling of a limb due to accumulation of fluid as a result of the lymphatic system unable to function at full capacity.

July 4, 2020

Naidine Sibanda 2 minutes read

The CMJAH lymphedema surgical team, Prof. Elias Ndobe, Dr Puritan Madzhia and Dr Liza Jordan treat the condition through surgery. Photo: Naidine Sibanda

Patients and the physiotherapy department team at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in Parktown shared more information about lymphedema. The presentation took place in the hospital’s auditorium.

Professor Elias Ndobe who is part of the surgical team at the hospital, defined lymphedema as the swelling of a limb due to the accumulation of fluid as a result of the lymphatic system unable to function at full capacity.

Various departments at Charlotte Maxeke join in the battle against lymphedema. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

He said there was primary lymphedema which was not directly attributed to other medical conditions, then there was secondary lymphedema which may occur because of trauma such as, but not limited to, tumours after radiation therapy for cancer or surgery to remove lymph nodes. Head of department for physiotherapy and emcee Tshifhiwa Mukheli highlighted that on the hospital’s database there were 52 patients who have upper-limb lymphedema and 60 with lower-limb lymphedema. She added that there were two children with an abnormality including a 10-month-old baby and a 10-year-old.

Patient Mpho Mokola shared that he developed lower-limb lymphedema in 2009 while in Grade 12. “I went to several traditional healers who told me that I was bewitched with unequal legs,” said Mokola. “I also had several relationships which ended because people I got involved with couldn’t accept my condition.”

Patients Gloria Jamane, Thloale Nkele, Veronica Kekana and Mpho Mokola share how they live with lymphedema. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

Fellow patient Veronica Kekana said the condition could deprive one of a lot of things but she chose to ‘make friends with her body’ and did not stop living. Thloale Nkele said when she first developed the condition, she couldn’t sleep at night and would always groan in discomfort. Gloria Jamane shared that when her lymphedema started it seemed like a mosquito bite.

Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital physiotherapist Peter Mathaba; HOD of the Physiotherapy Department, Tshifhiwa Mukheli; physiotherapist Anschen Venter; and hospital CEO Gladys Bogoshi; support lypmphedema patients. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

The four patients shared their similar cases of misdiagnoses and also how they eventually obtained proper help from the two certified lymphedema physiotherapists at the hospital Peter Mathaba and Anschen Venter. Mathaba said the physiotherapy programme needed a lot of time, energy and finance and they often conducted fundraisers to enable patients to attend treatment sessions. Venter added that there was no cure for lymphedema but they managed the condition in patients through lymph fluid drainage and compression.CEO at the hospital, Gladys Bogoshi commended the various department team members who followed up on patients to check on how therapy or surgery had affected them in terms of their lives, livelihood and presentation to the community.

“It must be very difficult to live with lymphedema and you have been given an opportunity to go through this rigorous treatment which is not easy,” she said. “All of these treatment activities are done in the name of ensuring that you get better, become independent and have your self-esteem improved. I am sure your story will motivate and inspire a lot of people.”