Latest Breakthroughs in Lymphoedema & Scar Care: Cairns ALA Conference

Highlights of the Cairns Australasian Lymphology Association Conference

I have always loved Cairns, a vibrant city in North Queensland known for its lively, 2.5-kilometre esplanade. Complete with the Pier, the Lagoon, scenic boardwalks, and active playground areas, the waterfront bounces with energy, shops, cafes, and restaurants.

My hotel was perfectly situated near the Convention Centre and just a 10-minute walk from the bustling Cairns Centre. This morning walk was the perfect way to stimulate my brain before diving into workshops and lectures.

Advanced Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

I travelled a day early to attend a pre-conference workshop on Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) for Head and Neck Lymphoedema, presented by Fiona Risdall Blake from ALERT (Australian Lymphoedema Education, Research and Treatment). The highlight was discussing management strategies for patients living with head and neck lymphoedema, alongside hands-on MLD practice.

The workshop utilised Indocyanine Green (ICG)—a water-soluble, green fluorescent dye—to visually demonstrate disrupted lymphatic drainage and guide precise MLD mapping. If you have an ICG report, please bring it to your next clinic appointment, as it significantly helps us tailor your treatment.

Innovation in Scar Management

The second workshop I attended was presented by Carole Leenheer-Muller, Medical Advisor in Scar Management with Juzo. She discussed current and emerging conservative scar management strategies using non-invasive solutions like compression garments and silicone.

These interventions remain the gold standard in scar management with the strongest evidence base. While compression garments and scar massage help realign existing collagen fibres, silicone keeps the tissue hydrated, improving overall modelling and pliability. Learning the latest advancements in this field was a personal highlight of the conference.

The Power of Early Intervention

Discussions surrounding early intervention for both lymphoedema and lipoedema remain a top priority in the field. Early management is crucial to minimise the impact on a patient's quality of life and reduce overall treatment costs. Proactive care prevents the progression of fibrosis and reduces the incidence of cellulitis, thereby preventing hospitalisation and loss of income.

Unfortunately, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment is still frequently understated. A recent multifaceted study revealed that delays in treating breast cancer-related lymphoedema often stem from a deeply rooted sense of fatalism, a lack of health literacy, and financial burdens. The authors noted:

"On top of the impacts of living with lymphoedema, people experience significant challenges in identifying and accessing dedicated lymphoedema care that meets their long-term needs." (Dr Pigott, et al)

This gap in care was perfectly illustrated by a conference poster charting the one-year progress of a patient with primary leg lymphoedema. This individual struggled with lower leg swelling for six years—beginning in adolescence—before finally receiving an accurate diagnosis, adequate care, and funding (Toyer, 2026).

As clinicians, this highlights our responsibility to prioritising early patient education. Introducing self-care early can prevent or even reverse initial tissue changes. Encouragingly, data also showed that advanced lymphoedema can still improve substantially through consistent, long-term management.

Key Research Presentations

I was highly impressed by the volume of Free Paper Presentations this year. Two sessions stood out in particular:

• Climate and Lymphoedema: A study tracking patients in Australia and Germany confirmed a clear consensus: heat and humidity present severe, additional challenges for managing lymphoedema (Witt & Neil, 2026).

• Understanding Lymphatic Lobe Progression: This presentation explored how a "lobe" (a malformed internal structural component of a lymph node) can progress into primary lymphoedema and recurrent cellulitis. The study concluded that clinicians must investigate primary lymphoedema early when facing persistent lower leg swelling, ensuring swift referral to a lymphoedema therapist. Key pillars of success include early detection, accurate garment measurement, proactive skincare, and patient education (Bryant, 2026).

Looking to the Future of Lipoedema Care

Finally, the presentation "Advancing Lipoedema Care in Australia" (Higgins, 2026) outlined goals to harmonise clinical guidelines and eliminate practice variation. The ultimate objective is to position Australia as a global leader in equitable lipoedema management. While systemic change takes time, it is incredibly comforting to know that advocacy, awareness, and best-practice guidelines for lipoedema are steadily moving forward.

Attending the Cairns Australasian Lymphology Association Conference reinforced a vital truth: our field is moving rapidly toward more visual, personalized, and proactive care. From utilizing cutting-edge ICG technology to advocating for national standardization in lipoedema care, the future of lymphology lies in empowering patients through early education and accessible treatment. Returning to the clinic, I am energized to implement these global advancements directly into my practice.

The spirit of this year's conference is best captured by an enduring philosophy pioneer Professor Michael Földi:

"Lymphoedema is a chronic disease, but it is a treatable one. Success depends not only on the skill of the therapist but on the lifelong compliance and empowerment of the patient."

References

• Bryant, A. (2026). Understanding Lymphatic Lobe Progression in Primary Lymphoedema. 16th ALA Conference. Cairns. Retrieved 13 May

• Higgins, L. (2026). Advancing Lipoedema Care in Australia. 16th ALA Conference, (p. 49). Cairns. Retrieved May 13, 2026

• Min Li, L. W. (2025, June 25). Behavioural trajectories of delay in seeking medical care in participants with breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a qualitative. BMJ Open. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/15/9/e086805.full.pdf

• Patricia, G., Mahmood Sultan, & Douglass , J. (2026). Five-years of consistent self-care can reduce limb size in the absence of professional care. 16th ALA Conference, (p. 53). Cairns. Retrieved May 13, 2026

• Pigott, A., Trevethan, M., Marshall, K., Whitehead, M., & Liddle, J. (n.d.). Informing service development. 16th ALA Conference, (p. 42). Cairns. Retrieved 13 May, 2026

• Toyer, K. (2026). A year of progress for a person with lymphoedema of their leg. 16th ALA Conference (p. 66). Cairns: Delegate handbook. Retrieved May 14, 2026

• Witt, S., & Neil, P. P. (2026). The impact of climate and climatic variations on lymphoedema. 16th ALA Conference, (p. 38). Cairns. Retrieved May 13, 2026

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