Cancer Fighters Thrive

SPRING 2014

Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.

Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/259111

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 21 of 51

22 cancer fighters thrive | spring 2014 cf thrive. com SURVIVORSHIP FOR A FREE PRINT SUBSCRIPTION GO TO CFTHRIVE.COM the limb). The therapist can tell you when you should wear a regular compression garment, such as when on an airplane. When it comes to exercise, Stevens stresses the importance of working with a certifed lymphedema therapist to deter- mine which types of activities are appro- priate. "Your therapist will help you avoid muscle strain and activities that cause trauma," she says, "and help you choose exercise that supports your lymph system and strengthens your immune system." Depending on your symptoms, the thera- pist may recommend that you wear a com- pression sleeve during exercise. Stevens also suggests using common sense when considering activities: "If you haven't done a certain activity before, consult your therapist," she says. "For example, if you've never played tennis before, don't play for two hours on your frst try." In general, start any activity (new or old) at a low intensity so that you do not cause trauma. Stevens says that lymphedema reha- bilitation is a priority in cancer treatment at CTCA. "Rehab is not an afterthought here," she explains. "If patients have pro- cedures that put them at risk of lymph- edema, we [lymphedema specialists] are part of the recovery—even before lymph- edema develops." Whenever patients undergo a proce- dure or therapy at CTCA that puts them at risk, a lymphedema risk-reduction kit is part of postsurgical care. With the kit, Stevens says, "Patients walk out with items to help them feel empowered to take care of themselves." The kit includes sunscreen samples, gloves (for skin protection) and informational booklets from the Ameri- can Cancer Society. Stevens says that she has seen great results when patients fol- If your rehabilitation therapist has prescribed a compression garment as part of your lymph- edema management plan, you probably think it is time to bid fashion farewell. But the truth about compression sleeves and gauntlets (fngerless gloves) is a lot fashier: LympheDIVAs (lymphedivas.com), a medically correct fashion company, is making garments that provide compression and allow women to look fabulous, too. LympheDIVAs was originally launched in 2006 by two young breast cancer sur- vivors, Rachel Levin Troxell and Robin Miller, who set out to provide an alternative option to the rough, clinical-looking beige sleeves they had been prescribed to control lymphedema. With the help of a fashion designer and medical advisers, they began developing a line of compression garments constructed from comfort- able materials and lively, fashion-forward prints. Though Robin lef LympheDIVAs in 2007, Rachel continued expanding the prod- uct line. Sadly, Rachel was diagnosed with a recurrence in 2007, and she passed away in 2008. LympheDIVAs continues to thrive, however, thanks to Rachel's par- ents—Howard Levin, MD, and Judy Levin—and her brother, Josh Levin, who now run the company. LympheDIVAs garments make a fashion statement with designs from elegant to whimsical—the team, afer all, honors the emotional aspect of healing and knows that fun accessories are guaranteed to lif spirits. But their sleeves and gauntlets are also made for comfort and function. Materials are selected to do the work at hand (compression) and be comfortable, particularly during extended wear. Comfort considerations include moisture-wicking technology, an aloe vera fabric-fnishing process that adds sofness and protects skin, 360-degree stretch for bending and fexing, and a choice of compression levels. LympheDIVAs Fusing fashion and function in medically correct compression garments cftSp#23vky.indd 22 2/3/14 11:13 PM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cancer Fighters Thrive - SPRING 2014