Lymphedema: a disease that is still too little known 

There are diseases that remain largely unknown. Lymphedema is one of them. Worldwide, about 250 million people are affected by it¹, the majority of whom are women. A reality that should be imposed in consultations, medical curricula and public health policies, and yet... Every March 6, World Lymphedema Day reminds us of what should not have to be: this pathology exists, it handicaps thousands of people and deserves to be treated. This annual meeting is an opportunity to highlight the importance of the challenges to be met.

Lymphedema is a dysfunction of the lymphatic system: lymph, the transparent fluid present in our lymphatic vessels in the same way as the blood in our veins, can no longer circulate properly and accumulates in the tissues. Depending on the affected area, the arm, leg, or fingers begin to swell. The skin tightens, hardens and can become painful. Movements become heavier and mobility decreases. It can be primary - present from birth, sometimes revealed in adolescence - or secondary, a frequent and too often neglected consequence of cancer treatments, particularly breast lymphedema of the arm. In the latter case, it can appear months or even years after the end of oncological treatment, surprising patients who thought they were done with the disease.

A disease in the blind spot of medical education

The first obstacle is there, upstream of everything: we don't recognize what we don't know. Lymphedema is little, if any, taught in medical studies. General practitioners, despite being the first point of contact for patients, lack the tools to identify this pathology. As a result, diagnoses are delayed. Patients wander. Some are told that their bulky leg is "a weight problem" or that their swollen arm is a "normal aftereffect" of cancer. These false explanations are an obstacle to care and an additional wound for people who are already vulnerable.

However, lymphedema is not one of the invisible diseases, it can be seen. What it lacks is a trained gaze.

When care becomes an obstacle course

When the diagnosis is finally made, a new battle begins. For example, France has only two reference centers specializing in lymphology. For patients far from major cities, specialized care can sometimes be completely inaccessible for logistical reasons. However, as we know, the standard treatment is mainly based on compression: bandages, sleeves, stockings that exert mechanical pressure on the affected limb to help the lymph regain its natural pathways and circulate it. Clinically validated, compression is recommended for all types of lymphedemas. It is also recommended to have regular physical activity and good hygiene.

25% of patients have given up on treatment at least once, i.e. one in four². Either because it is too expensive, too far away or too restrictive. Sometimes simply because no one ever explained that an appropriate treatment exists, and that it could change their daily lives.

The body as abandoned territory

What we talk about the least is what these patients actually endure. Chronic discomfort first, followed by skin tension, hindered movements and the permanent sensation of a foreign limb. But also, the damage to the skin itself: stretched, hardened, thickened, weakened, it loses its suppleness and protective function. And beyond the body, the psychological impact of a transformed silhouette, a damaged self-image, and a diminished autonomy.

Lymphedema is not an aesthetic pathology. It is a debilitating chronic disease affecting mobility, quality of life, the ability to work, dress or sometimes even travel. Putting the right words on this reality is already a therapeutic act. It's telling the people involved: what you're going through is real, documented, and treatable.

Signs of hope exist, provided we hear them

However, it must be said: things are starting to move. Slowly, but surely. The reimbursement by the Health Insurance of certain compression devices in the context of lymphedema is a concrete and recent step forward. In December 2025, the “Cancer Plan” law was adopted. It provides for the creation of a dedicated funding envelope for women with breast cancer, enabling them to cover certain complementary care services that are not reimbursed. We are currently awaiting the decree implementation, which will specify the list of products eligible for this coverage, including compression devices used in the treatment of lymphedema. In the medical community, this is seen as a strong signal that the comprehensive management of oncological sequelae is entering the political consciousness.  

Conversely, at Thuasne, this commitment is not new. For nearly a hundred years, our story has been one of compression – from the elastic bands used to treat ulcers in the trenches to today's medical devices. It is in this spirit that we have been supporting patients with lymphedema for several years and that we are currently developing a connected and customizable device. The objective: to allow each patient to treat themselves at home, at their own pace. A device discreet enough to be worn under clothing and smart enough to adapt to everyone's needs.

On this World Day, the message must be clear: lymphedema is not inevitable. It can be diagnosed, it can be treated. The earlier the treatment takes place, the better it is controlled.  
 

¹ https://www.gazettelabo.fr/diagnostic/breves/17173Lymphoedeme-femmes.html 
² Partenariat Français du Lymphoedème (PFL). (s. d.). Etude lymphorac. https://lympho.fr/lymphorac