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 Karen Rushby Takes Lymphedema Education on The Road! Karen Rushby, PT, MScHA, CLT was trained in the treatment of Lymphedema back in 1995 and soon after opened up her own clinic in Santa Cruz, California. She quickly sensed that awareness about lymphedema and the Physical Therapist’s role in managing it was incredibly low. Karen’s first experience working to raise awareness was a women’s group education series that was held in an old Victorian home in Santa Cruz, California. The rooms were so crammed with women that she couldn’t see many of the women she was talking too. The attendees were extremely appreciative of the information Karen had shared, and it inspired her to take every future opportunity to share her knowledge with the public.
So far this year, Karen has cooperated with the Family Planning of Clallam County Breast and Cervical Health Program to take her lymphedema  awareness show to four tribal health fairs, one general community health fair, two women’s cancer support groups and a “Walk for the Cure” event. Karen and her co-worker Pam Predovich, PTA offer lymphedema educational materials and screenings at these events. Karen developed a screening/referral tool that uses check marked boxes to identify a person’s risk for lymphedema. The form is then given to the patient to take to their doctor, which in turn if filled in by the doctor can become their referral. “It’s very exciting,” says Karen. “I will often find someone who has lymphedema and didn’t know it, and many people who know someone that has lymphedema or a swelling disorder that would benefit from an evaluation.”
We asked Karen to share tips for PTs, PTAs, and PT/PTA students on how to get started with your own lymphedema information table. She offered the following checklist for items to gather and take to a fair:
- A large laminated sign that says, “Lymphedema Screening”
- 2 - 4 chairs
- A folding table and table cloth
- Antiseptic Hand Cleaner
- Copies of your favorite lymphedema informational handouts (the Oncology Section has a brochure on lymphedema- see www.oncologypt.org, “publications.”)
- Before and after treatment pictures (Says Karen: "a picture is worth a thousand words")
- Your business cards (if the person does not live near you, you can send them to APTA’s online directory of Physical Therapists, www.apta.org/findapt)
Karen told the following story from a recent “Walk for the Cure” community cancer awareness fundraiser. “A woman came by the table with her friend; she was wearing a pink tee shirt for the walk because she was a breast cancer survivor. Before I could even say anything, she told  me she knew all about lymphedema and that she doesn’t have it, as it had been 5 years since her cancer. She indicated to me that since that amount of time had passed she wasn’t at risk for lymphedema. I had the “18 steps to UE Lymphedema Prevention,” and gave her a copy saying “Did you know that lymphedema can occur, days, weeks, months, years, or even 20 years……….or more?” She was surprised and asked for more information, and took a copy of the “18 steps” to read later. "I think a lot of women are overwhelmed with information at the diagnosis of their cancer and can’t retain it all," says Karen. "Education is the key.”
Karen’s awareness efforts have started to snowball: her awareness table at one health fair was featured in a local newspaper, and she has been invited to be interviewed for one hour on a local radio station on the topic of lymphedema. If you decide to participate in a health fair, think about sending a short press release to local media before the event.
The Oncology Section congratulates Karen Rushby, PT, MScHA, CLT and Pam Predovich, PTA on their hard work, and encourages other members to get involved to educate the public and other healthcare professionals.
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