"Lymphoedema in my legs"

I was eventually diagnosed with lymphoedema in both legs earlier on this year. I had surgery followed by chemo and radio. At no time was the risk of lymphoedema mentioned. I started noticing swelling in my left leg last year and my GP said it was mild water retention.

However by the start of this year my leg was quite swollen and red and my other leg had started to swell as well.

I spoke with my Macmillan nurse and she eventually got me a referral to the local lymphoedema clinic which is in Greenock, where I was diagnosed with lymphoedema in both legs.

Apart from the fact that at no time was I told anything about lymphoedema or the fact that I now have it for the rest of my life I am angry at the lack of local support.

I live on an island off the west coast of Scotland, Isle of Bute. Lymphoedema patients have to travel via ferry and public transport to the mainland to the nearest lymphoedema clinic. This means sometimes the best part of a day is taken up to attend an appointment.

We have no local lymphoedema clinic or nurse here on the island. There was a physio who did all the training a few years back but nothing came of it.

I feel it is totally out of order that elderly and often frail patients have to struggle to travel to the mainland for appointments.

I think we need a lympheedoma clinic here on the island at our local hospital or health centre.