Giving voice: Breaking barriers for men living with lymphedema

This MOH Talk aimed to spotlight the often overlooked experiences of men living with lymphedema, focusing on the challenges they faced in accessing appropriate compression solutions and in having their needs acknowledged. The topic addressed a significant gap in awareness: ensuring men not only received the correct compression therapy but also felt confident and supported in wearing it. By amplifying these voices, the initiative sought to foster a more inclusive approach to care within the veno-lymphatic field.

Key points

• Health Inequalities & Masculinity: Men may delay seeking help due to cultural perceptions of masculinity, which can be linked to poorer outcomes and emotional isolation.
• Daily Life & Support Gaps: Men describe frustration with inconsistent medical recognition and public misunderstanding. Many feel unsupported or excluded from group settings which maybe more focused on women’s cancer- related lymphedema.
• Control & Adaptation: Participants of the study expressed a strong desire to become “expert patients,” developing routine and strategies for control, despite ongoing fears about disease progression.
• Recommendations for Practice: The presentation urges the consideration of masculinity, more inclusive language, improved education and encouraging peer support for better long-term outcomes.

in partnership with Legs Matter

Watch the recording