Donation provides new patient service

The Breast Friends presented a cheque for $5,500 to Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation, to cover the cost of purchasing a lymphadema jacket and pump system so that Sunrise therapists can begin providing this service.

"This is the type of service we like to support, because it is about helping women right now who are suffering from the effects of breast cancer," said Jeannie Johnson of the Breast Friends. "We provide a lot of support for cancer research but where we can we like to donate to projects that will make a difference in people's lives right now."

There is a growing need for this service for breast cancer survivors. Many women who survive breast cancer have radiation treatment, and radiation treatment can destroy the lymph vessels that drain fluid from tissues throughout the body and allow immune cells to travel where they are needed. This may cause lymphedema, which means swelling due to a blockage of the lymph passages.

Another very common cause of lymphedema is removal of the breast underarm lymph tissue for breast cancer. This causes lymphedema of the arm in 10 to 15% of patients, because the lymphatic drainage of the arm passes through the armpit (axilla).

"This is a great donation from the Breast Friends as it will allow us to provide another totally new service to the residents of this health region," said Ross Fisher. "Once we became aware of the need for this service everybody worked to put the service in place as soon as possible. I had a phone call from a patient who travels to Regina for this service the first week of November and we will have this service in place in January."

Sunrise staff were excellent to work with on this program. The therapists at Cornerstone Therapies were more than willing to take the training needed. They talked to the therapists delivering the service in Regina and made arrangement to go down and train with them; they also investigated the equipment we would need. That equipment is ordered and will be in place in the next few weeks.

At present residents of Sunrise Health Region who need this service travel to Regina for the treatment. There are approximately 15 patients currently needing this service and that number is expected to grow.