Thanks to a donation from Bega Cheese, the South East Regional Hospital oncology ward now has a digital monitoring device for lymphoedema – a fluid build-up in the limbs often caused by cancer treatment.

Lymphoedema usually affects the limbs, with the fluid retention causing localised swelling, aching and stiffness. It is not usually painful and can be managed through physical therapy and exercise, but the earlier it can be diagnosed the easier it is to handle.

The small device purchased thanks to a donation from Bega Cheese’s community support fund can test for fluid levels even before symptoms become obvious.

Its purchase was mainly to a push from breast cancer survivor Andrea Thistlethwayte, who also happens to be human resources manager at Bega Cheese.

“I had some of my treatment in Sydney and then post-op care here with Jenny [McGrath Breast Care Nurse Jenny Garner],” Ms Thistlethwayte said. “I was surprised that what seemed like a simple piece of equipment wasn’t available here.”

Ms Garner said the biggest group at risk of lymphoedema were breast cancer patients, who are most likely to have lymph nodes removed. However, melanoma was also a risk factor and there is also a primary lymphoedema that is not cancer related. 

All of these patients could get the benefit of early detection and monitoring with the new device.

Ms Garner said the hospital is performing breast cancer surgery at least once a week on average – but added there had been 45 so far this year.

Ms Thistlethwayte said as one of the company’s core values is to support each other, the donation of around $6000 was money well spent.

Bega Cheese director Max Roberts, who was on hand for the monitor’s test run last week, said it was a smaller ask than what usually lands on the large company’s desk, “but it will have a large impact across the community”.

“There wouldn’t be too many families not touched by cancer at some point,” Ms Thistlethwayte said.