Canadian Association of Wound Care: Lymphedema Highlighted at 2003 Conference

Dermatologists and wound healing - in the front lines of treating lymphedema

Wound care specialists across Canada have become increasingly aware of the number of patients with lymphedema who are visiting their offices - many with phlebo or diabetic-related problems as well. This growing awareness was reflected in four workshops at the annual CAWC conference shedule held in Toronto Nov. 6-9, 2003. It is the second annual CAWC conference where lymphedema has been an integral part of the Association's conference schedule.

The plenary session opened with a panel entitled: Patient Empowerment - Whose Life is it Anyways? Panelists Judy Barry, with K-T syndrome, Cathy McPherson, Vice-President of the Canadian Lymphedema Foundation and Diane Lesperance, a wheelchair user, shared their experiences as patients and how they advocated for themselves and others in the health care system. The panel, chaired by Dr. Gary Sibbald, received a standing ovation from the 800 conference delegates at the session.

Three other lymphedema-related workshops were held at the conference. They included:

Lymphedema: Assessment, Treatment & Case Study with speakers Catherine Cotton, Patient Care Director of the Rehabilitation Department at the Scarborough Hospital (General Division) which has a lymphedema treatment program, Dr. Ian Dayes, Radiologist with the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre, who is spearheading a three centre study in Ontario on the effectiveness of massage therapy on patients with breast-cancer related lymphedema, and Cathy McPherson, Policy Analyst, who spoke about the prophylactic use of antibiotics in individuals with lymphedema who have repeated infections.

Advanced Compression: Phlebo-Lymphedema with speakers Catherine Cotton, Mary Engel - RN with the Enterostomal Therapy NOW program in Kitchener, Ontario and Dr. Brian Kunimoto, Dermatologist with the Wound Healing Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital.

Leg Ulcer and Lymphedema Consensus with Dr. Kunimoto, Catherine Cotton and Dr. Gary Sibbald, Associate Professor with the University of Toronto and Director of the Dermatology Daycare and Wound Healing Clinic at Sunnybrook and Women's Health Science Centre.

Here are a few photo highlights from the event:

Patient Empowerment - Whose Life is it Anyways?
At the table (from left to right) Diane Lesperance, Cathy McPherson and Judy Barry. Standing: Dr. Gary Sibbald, conference Chair and RN Connie Harris, Co-Chair of the conference.

Lymphedema: Assessment, Treatment & Case Study
Speakers Catherine Cotton, Patient Care Director of the Rehabilitation Department, Scarborough Hospital (General Division) and Dr. Ian Dayes, Radiologist with the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre

Advanced Compression: Phlebo-Lymphedema Leg Ulcer and Lymphedema Consensus

For more information on the conference activities view
the Canadian Association of Wound Care web site at: www.cawc.net