
June 12, 2025 // 12:00 PM (BST)
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
Speakers
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 emphasizes 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 lymphedema 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.
Moderator
Rebecca Elwell, UK (LinkedIn)
Director of National Clinical Services, Accelerate CIC
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