Margherita Serpagli had lymph nodes removed during treatment for breast cancer in 2018 — but then had swelling in her arm caused by lymphoedema due to a build-up of fluid in the body.
She loved dancing, but her arm would be tight and burning after three minutes.
The 55-year-old from Enfield has had six sessions of manual lymphatic drainage to help drain the fluid — and now she can dance again.
“I’m in palliative care,” Margherita explained. “But maybe I will get to the end of the road with these treatments and suffer a little less.
Her treatment is being carried out by therapists from north London’s Royal Free Charity.
“I felt like I had empty pockets in my arms after the second session,” Margherita added. “I could feel the liquid going down and could raise my arm and dance by session six. My quality of life is better.”
The charity’s therapists have had specialist training to help patients manage symptoms and “reclaim everyday joys like dancing”.
The treatment also helps prevent some readmissions to hospital, the therapist treating Margherita revealed. Patients with lymphoedema can have six free sessions if referral from their clinical care team.
The NHS provides some lymphoedema services but getting the new treatment can be limited by geography and eligibility criteria.
The charity’s new service bridges that gap, offering patients direct, integrated care in the hospital where they’re getting treatment, close to home.
Cancer care specialist Azmina Rose, from the Royal Free London NHS trust, said: “There are long waiting lists in some areas for lymphoedema treatment.
“The build-up of fluid In Margherita’s case caused the affected arm to feel heavy, tight and stiff, restricting her movement.
“People feel self-conscious if one limb is larger than the other and often feel a need to wear different clothing to cover the swollen limb, such as wider-sleeves or trousers.
“Wearing compression garments like tight sleeves, socks or bandages can be uncomfortable and hot.”
The new treatment, however, can lead to improvements with regular exercise. Patients feel a difference in mobility after just a few sessions.
