A LOCAL clinical nurse consultant specialising in lymphoedema therapy is now seeing patients following the completion of her training, funded by the Broken Hill Breast Cancer Support & Fundraising Group.
Megan Jordan specialises in wound, stoma care, and now lymphoedema surveillance, diagnosis, management and prevention.
Originally from the Central Coast, Mrs Jordan moved to the region as a nurse in 2014, completing several certificates in acute care nursing, and stomal therapy nursing.
In July last year she completed the Macquarie University lymphoedema therapist accreditation course, thanks to the Broken Hill Breast Cancer Support and Fundraising Group funding.
“The Breast Cancer Support Group funded the course fees, and the travel expenses to attend the face-to-face component of the lymphoedema course,” Mrs Jordan said.
“I’m very thankful that they supported me.
“They do amazing work and the amount of money that they raise as such a small group in a small town is to be commended.”
Lymphoedema is swelling caused by disruption to the lymphatic system, often as a result of cancer treatment.
“Lymphoedema affects many different people,” Mrs Jordan said.
“Those prone to it are people that have had their lymph nodes removed or radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment.
“There are several key components to lymphoedema therapy. I’m trained to treat lymphoedema affecting the upper limb and breast, lower limb and genital regions.
“We usually work on multiple ways of supporting people with lymphoedema. This may include manual lymphatic drainage massage, which aids in the drainage of the lymphatic fluid away from the affected areas, compression bandages or garments, and overall healthy lifestyle and wellbeing.”
Mrs Jordan said not all people with breast cancer would get lymphoedema, however awareness, early monitoring and surveillance are key to reducing the effects.
She also said that people at risk of lymphoedema, particularly those being treated for breast cancer, should have an assessment pre, post and during their treatment to identify any changes or risks of developing lymphoedema.
“It’s not just about managing treatment once lymphoedema occurs, it’s about preventing it from occurring, and having surveillance there so that we can catch it early,” Mrs Jordan said.
The Breast Cancer Support Group president Leeann Clogg said the group donated a lymphoedema machine a number of years ago.
“That’s why we now continue the training, because we want to make sure that there’s always somebody here to operate the machine and give people treatment,” she said.
“It costs us about $12,000 to train the two staff. That’s to be a specialist and know how to use that machine, and includes their airfares, accommodation and university.”
Mrs Jordan said she was thankful for the opportunity to serve the community.
“I want to get across a big thank you for providing the funding and support so that we can have more specialised lymphoedema trained therapist here in Far West Local Health District to provide care to our local community,” she said.
“I’ve seen a few patients recently, now that I’ve done my training, and straight away I walk into the room and I can see they may have lymphoedema, and then find out they’ve lived with it undiagnosed or managed it for a long time.
“It is rewarding to be able to see those people that have struggled for so long and perhaps give them some sort of management plan that can improve their life and manage their symptoms better.”
For more information on lymphoedema therapy, please contact the Broken Hill Hospital Lymphoedema Clinic on 08 8080 1300.
Ask for the Allied Health receptionist for information or referral to the lymphoedema therapist or clinic.
