No Treatment For Southern Alberta Lymphedema Patients After March

Main Category: Lymphology/Lymphedema
Article Date: 26 Jan 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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As of March 31, Southern Alberta patients suffering from non-cancer-related lymphedema, a progressive, non-curable lymphatic disorder resulting in one or more grossly swollen limbs and associated medical complications, will no longer have treatment services available in the city of Calgary or its surrounds.

A recent decision by Alberta Health Services' Tom Baker Cancer Centre to provide in-house lymphedema treatment for cancer patients means the city's only lymphedema clinic is shutting its doors.

Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation and Consulting Services Inc., a private clinic, has been the sole provider of treatment services for Southern Alberta lymphedema patients, regardless of cause.

Because more than 90 per cent of the clinic's patients have cancer-caused lymphedema, the drastic loss of patients to the new in-house program at Tom Baker means Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation and Consulting Services is no longer viable.

Patients who have "primary" lymphedema (born with it), or "secondary" lymphedema not caused by cancer (causes include injury, infection, diseases other than cancer, and Filariasis from a tropical mosquito bite) are not eligible for treatment at the new Tom Baker clinic - even though it will have the only trained lymphedema practitioners in Calgary.

Lymphedema is a progressive, disfiguring and debilitative disorder. Uncontrolled lymphedema can lead to cellulitis and septicemia, fast-moving infections requiring I.V. antibiotics and costly hospital stays. Patients can lose their infected limb(s) or worse. Without treatment to reduce volume, the buildup of lymph fluid continues to expand the limb (elephantiasis).

It is the responsibility of Alberta Health Services to ensure non-cancer lymphedema patients have access to a specialized clinic to assess, treat, and manage their condition, as well as to provide fair and equitable treatment for all lymphedema sufferers.

A secondary issue is funding. Treatment for non-cancer patients is not covered. However, the Alberta Cancer Board (now part of the new Alberta Health Services) covers treatment for cancer patients.

Prior to November 2006, treatment for Southern Alberta cancer patients was not covered either. However, following revelations that Edmonton cancer patients received publicly funded in-house lymphedema treatment, Southern Alberta's cancer patients also received funding. Services were contracted to Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation.

In 2006, the Alberta Lymphedema Association gathered signatures on a petition requesting Alberta Health Care coverage for all lymphedema sufferers. The petition was tabled in the Alberta Legislature August 30, 2006, and still has not been brought forward to the floor.

The continued non-funding for non-cancer lymphedema treatment is inequitable. This disease is the same regardless of cause, and treatment is neither optional nor cosmetic.

Alberta Lymphedema Association