Giving Voice: Breaking barriers for men living with lymphoedema

A live webinar delivered in partnership with Sigvaris

Overview

This MOH Talk aims to spotlight the often overlooked experiences of men living with lymphedema, focusing on the challenges they face in accessing appropriate compression solutions and having their needs acknowledged. The topic addresses an important gap in awareness: ensuring men not only receive the right compression therapy but also feel confident and supported in wearing it. By amplifying these voices, we hope to foster a more inclusive approach to care in the veno-lymphatic field.

Speakers

Beccy Elwell (Moderator),  Director of National Clinical Services, Accelerate CIC and Legs Matter Coalition Member

Rebecca has over 25 years experience of working as an ANP in Lymphoedema and is a proud trustee of the BLS. She has represented BLS as part of the Legs Matter campaign and has recently joined Accelerate, another original Legs Matter coalition partner, having previously managing the Lymphoedema service at UHNM NHS Trust for over 20 years.

Katy Stevens, UK (LinkedIn), Clinical Advisor at SIGVARIS GROUP Britain

Dr. Garry Cooper, UK (LinkedIn), Clinical Nurse Specialist in lymphoedema

An award-winning Queen’s Nurse, recognised by the Queen’s Nursing Institute for his exceptional contributions to primary care. He holds a PhD focused on the lived experiences of men with non-cancer-related lymphedema, particularly in the areas of self-management, identity, and support needs.

His research emphasises the value of active listening and reveals how clinicians can refine their language to better support patients insights drawn directly from interviews, surveys, and patient diaries. Dr. Cooper brings a compassionate, evidence-based perspective to improving care for a population often overlooked in traditional lymphedema services.

Matt Hazledine, UK (LinkedIn), Author and founder of Lymphoedema United

Matt was diagnosed with lymphoedema in 2011 after getting a severe bout of cellulitis that hospitalised him for 2 weeks. Since then, he has tried everything to reduce his swollen leg, including two types of surgery.

In 2021, Matt decided to share his experiences and tips to help others with this lifelong condition, by writing a book, joined by over 20 experts ‘How to Live Better with Lymphoedema – Meet the Experts’ and creating Lymphoedema United, a patient-based website with everything you’d need to know and who to know to get trusted information and guidance.

Agenda

• Dr. Garry Cooper will present findings from a systematic review, survey and patient diaries, highlighting key insights and how healthcare professionals can improve communication and care delivery
• Matt Hazledine, a participant in the study, will share his lived experience with lymphoedema and reflect on what helped and what still needs to change from a patient’s point of view