A NEW app to help people being treated for cancer avoid developing a painful and debilitating condition has been launched at University Hospital Limerick.
The Lymph Active app, launched during Public Service Transformation Week 2024, helps explain lifestyle choices and exercises that can help manage or even prevent the condition.
Lymphoedema is a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues. It can affect any part of the body, but usually develops in the arms or legs. Patients affected by cancer can develop lymphoedema after lymph node removal during treatment.
The development of the service was supported by the Public Service Innovation Fund from the Department of Public Expenditure.
Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Damien McCallion, HSE Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, said that the new app can “help patients access the right information at the right time to help them manage their condition”
Kay Morris, HSE Lymphoedema Services project manager explained that “the app provides links to HSE health and wellness programs that promote a healthy lifestyle”, adding that it is also “available to clinicians to prescribe tailored exercises for clients who are at risk of developing or already affected by lymphoedema”.
The app contains exercises and exercise tracking, videos and tips, and has a symptom tracker to see if a patient needs to contact a clinician.
HSE Mid West Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick said that the app, launched at UHL, “is another example of the commitment of our specialist staff in helping patients manage this devastating complication of cancer surgery and treatment”.
“The physiotherapy-led Lymphoedema Early Detection Service at UHL has in the last three years reduced the incidence of clinical lymphoedema from an expected 25 per cent to under two per cent.
“This remarkable achievement was made possible by empowering people to know their risk and how to manage their condition. The app is another example of how we can do this.”
Mandy Quirke, a patient at UHL, said that the new app is “fabulous”.
“I have learned so much from it. The information is so clearly laid out: what lymphoedema is, the risk factors, how to prevent it and how to deal with it if it occurs.
“Usually, when you’re told to exercise, that’s it- you’re left to source the exercises yourself. This app has it all clearly laid out in a very can do way.”
