Letter: Act would help lymphedema patients

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer treatments of all types frequently involve the removal of lymph nodes, and this can result in lymphedema. Lymphedema is a significant survivorship issue. There are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and sadly, 40% of breast cancer survivors will develop lymphedema.

Today, approximately 5 million Americans suffer from lymphedema. The majority of patients in the U.S. are cancer survivors, but there are also many other causes of lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a chronic, painful and disfiguring disease that requires daily management. There is no cure for lymphedema and no pharmaceutical treatment. One of the most important treatments for lymphedema is prescription medical compression garments - and they are often not covered by insurance.

Without treatment, patients suffer from significantly higher rates of painful and costly lymphedema-related complications and hospitalizations.

The Lymphedema Treatment Act makes a technical correction to Medicare to provide coverage for prescribed lymphedema compression garments and supplies. This federal bill will improve patient outcomes and save the Medicare program $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion over the first 10 years by reducing the incidence of costly complications, co-morbidities, disabilities, and hospitalizations.

Barbara Hochstadt

Roselle