One Piece of Advice

10 awesome benefits of having lymphoedema

Written by Yvonne Hughes on March 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

The no.1 benefit to having lymphoedema is…

Since March the 6^this World Lymphoedema Day, I thought I’d celebrate by sharing with you the top 10 benefits of having lymphoedema. Yes, it’s a different sort of list, but it’s our ‘day’, so we may as well bring our party attitude.

10. Meeting new people

Because I have lymphoedema, I get to meet new people all the time. Sure, they may be nosy shop assistants or random strangers asking ‘what have you done to yourself?’ but not a day goes by when I don’t get to speak to a fellow human being. It’s great if you want to practise any social skills like restraint, biting your tongue and giving people the benefit of the doubt.

9. Being a voice for change

Usually, I’m the voice for a change… in temperature. Sometimes it’s a simple as saying ‘Could we please turn up the air conditioning?’ or sometimes it’s more complex, like orchestrating a shift in large groups of people, to get me to the chair near the door/fan/open window.

8. Opportunities for work experience

In the area where I live, there are no publicly funded lymphoedema services. None at all. So if you don’t have the means to pay for treatment, you don’t get any treatment. And this isn’t unique to my area. We need to get out there and be lobbyists, activists and representatives. Excellent skill development.

7. Life-long pampering

Not many people with chronic conditions are lucky enough to be prescribed massage. Well we are, and I hope you’re all grateful for this. I don’t want anyone complaining about how expensive it is, or how we don’t even have a Medicare number for this. I just want you to lie back and enjoy the experience. It won’t get any knots out of your neck, and you will have to follow it up by squeezing back into that compression garment, but hey, you got your ‘me time.’

6. Soft as a baby’s bottom

Don’t you love the end of the day when you can rip off the compression garment and feel the cool air on your affected limb? Haven’t you noticed how soft and smooth your skin is? It’s definitely worth the thousands of dollars you pay each year in compression garments. And it comes with a bonus feature of SPF 100+ so you’re sun safe too.

5. You, and all the other elite athletes

Everyone’s seen sportspeople on TV but no one’s ever seem someone with lymphoedema on TV, so how are they to know the difference? Use it to your advantage and lie through your teeth. Next time someone you don’t know asks what the compression garment is for, look them straight in the eye and tell them you’re an athlete. Not everyone looks like Serena Williams; you could be a medallist for curling for all they know, so say it and own it.

4. Legitimise your concerns

Your concerns are legitimate and you can act on them. It IS bloody hot in that and even more so when it IS bloody hot. You deserve to get the seat next to the aircon, skip the queue for gelato or doing anything else that’s going to get you cold stuff in hot weather.

3. Provide social commentary

In other words, whinge if you want to. You’re justified. You’d have to be pretty thick skinned – no offence – to not be bothered by the constant comments. If some idiot wants to say something that confirms their idiot-status, then feel free to recount the conversation endlessly. Embrace the outrage. It’s impossible to educate every man and his dog about your condition, and you certainly don’t want to waste your breath on someone who was really only ‘making conversation’.

2. Pool your resources

Or make the pool your resource. Better still, if you have flexible working arrangements, ask your manager if you can work poolside. Swimming has enormous therapeutical benefits for lymphoedema. Not only is it exercise, but it’s cooling and the gentle pressure of the water mirrors the gentle pressure of a lymphatic drainage massage. What? You’re having trouble fitting in a regular swim with your other medical appointments, your self-care routines, and your work and family commitments? Well, maybe that’s your own fault for not having a pool at home.

And here it is [drumroll please], the top of the list, the ultimate advantage to having lymphoedema.

1. You’ve got drive

No sarcasm here. When everyone else is playing ‘hot potato’ with their steering wheel in this hot, hot weather, a little tug of my compression sleeve and I’m cruising like a boss.

Tagged: lymphedema | lymphoedema

See Yvonne on SBS News

Written by Yvonne Hughes on June 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

Yvonne was asked by SBS news to comment on a new study that looks into whether chemo is necessary for all early-stage breast cancer patients.

Take a look… https://www.sbs.com.au/news/many-can-skip-breast-cancer-chemo-study

Keep up with the advice

Written by Yvonne Hughes on February 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

Have you seen One Piece of Advice on facebook or twitter (@onepieceadvice)? Follow us for extra advice, suggestions and the odd lymphoedema rant.

Blogs and webinars

Written by Yvonne Hughes on August 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

It’s been a busy few weeks for me and One Piece of Advice. I was delighted to be asked to speak on a Cancer Council NSW webinar on supporting someone after treatment has finished. I jotted down some thoughts after the webinar too. You can read my blog post by clicking this link (which will also take you to a recorded version of the webinar): http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/blog/tips-from-a-cancer-survivor/

I was also thrilled to be a guest blogger for ‘Boob in a Box’. You can read my ‘Fertility Friday’ thoughts here: https://boobinabox.net/2016/08/12/fertility-friday-complicated/

How morning tea can help…

Written by Yvonne Hughes on June 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

Every May and June, Cancer Council runs its Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea campaign. This year, my friends and I raised more than $16k… but we want to raise more. So, until the end of June, I will donate 50% from One Piece of Advice sales to our fundraising total. Just type the code ABMT at checkout.

So there you go, morning tea can make a difference!

CNSA conference

Written by Yvonne Hughes on June 19, 2015 Leave a Comment

I had a fantastic time at the CNSA Winter Congress. I met so many wonderful nurses, including some very special breast care nurses.

I was also thrilled to be in the exhibition area talking about One Piece of Advice. Huge thanks to CNSA, Cancer Council WA, Chilli Fox Events and Fabricated, for the beautiful banner.

Lymphoedema blog posts

Written by Yvonne Hughes on May 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

Did you know I was a guest blogger for the Iced Tea Party this year?

If you didn’t follow my blog posts at icedteaparty.com.au then you can read them here.

http://www.icedteaparty.com.au/patient-stories/lymphoedema-right-pain-arm/

http://www.icedteaparty.com.au/patient-stories/arm-lymphoedema-one-arm-three-stories/

http://www.icedteaparty.com.au/patient-stories/yvonne-hughes/kathy-bates-lymphoedema-poster-child/

http://www.icedteaparty.com.au/patient-stories/yvonne-hughes/cancers-hidden-aftermath-still-hidden/

http://www.icedteaparty.com.au/patient-stories/banding-together-lymphoedema-awareness/

http://www.icedteaparty.com.au/patient-stories/so-what-next-for-lymphoedema-treatment/

My thoughts on Belle Gibson…

Written by Yvonne Hughes on April 23, 2015 Leave a Comment

Here’s an article I wrote for news.com.au on why I’m both angry and sad at this very shocking situation.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/i-know-people-will-be-shocked-by-belle-gibsons-story-but-im-angry/story-fneuzlbd-1227315846186

Buying several copies? Save on postage…

Written by Yvonne Hughes on August 5, 2014 Leave a Comment

If you want to buy a few copies of One Piece of Advice, postage will be cheaper than the fixed per-book price. Email orders@onepieceofadvice.com.au with your requirements.

A day with the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation

Written by Yvonne Hughes on July 17, 2014 Leave a Comment

Thank you to the the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation for my stall at the hospital yesterday. I enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by.