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Welcome! On the positive side, it's getting a little bit easier for women with breast and truncal lymphedema to find the information and help they need. In addition to the good news about insurance coverage for breast cancer-related lymphedema that we shared with you in our last newsletter, there's been progress in other areas as well. Breast and truncal lymphedema has been getting attention in national publications, and Lesli has been asked to speak at Medtrade 2004, the premiere conference for the durable medical goods industry. In addition to all of this, we're also launching a campaign to get HCPC for garments that provide truncal compression so that it will be easier to get insurance coverage for the Compressure Comfort® Bra. It may be "David" going up against "Goliath," but as Lisa always says: "If you don't ask, the answer is automatically 'no!'" Click here to find out how you can help.
With your support, we CAN make a difference -
thank you!
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you cannot do. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Bellisse has recently relocated to new, bigger offices! WHAT'S NEW: Our new fax number, 802.864.7626, and our new customer service address: PO Box 2221, Williston, VT 05494-2221. WHAT'S THE SAME: Our toll free number (1.877.273.1683), email address (), and our corporate address (PO Box 1836, Williston, VT). Due to a technical challenge during our move we were unable to receive emails for a brief time. If you emailed us and received a bounce-back message, please as we have resolved this issue.
Summer is a difficult time of year for lymphedema sufferers, because symptoms can be exacerbated by increased body heat. The increased activity we usually enjoy during the warm months can also make it difficult for many folks to control their edema. Some tips for staying well during the summer months:
Bellisse co-founder Lesli Bell's expertise and commitment to improving the lives of women with truncal lymphedema has been recognized by the organizers of the Medtrade 2004 conference, who have invited Lesli to give a presentation on "Lymphedema After Breast Cancer - The Whole Picture". Medtrade 2004 will be held from October 25-28 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Lesli's presentation will take place on October 28 from 8:30-9:30 am. Bellisse has arranged for you to attend all three days of the Expo for free! Register online now to take advantage of our offer. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando at Booth # 1176!
In addition to Medtrade, Bellisse will also be attending the National Lymphedema Network, Inc. Conference (NLN), in Reno, NV, from October 20 - 23. The conference will be held at the Nugget Hotel. Please visit us at Booth # 311!
Bellisse® is spearheading a campaign to get a specific HCPC code created for garments that deliver "truncal compression following breast cancer complications". This will make the insurance reimbursement process easier for everyone: if the Compressure Comfort Bra has its own specific code, submissions will no longer have to be "dropped to paper" and can be submitted electronically. An added bonus: having a HCPC code makes it more likely that Medicare will start covering the Compressure Comfort® Bra - which means that all women would have access to comfortable compression. YOU can help! You really do have the power to influence the system - but only if your voice is heard! to send us an email about how truncal compression garments like the Compressure Comfort® Bra have helped you or your patients. Specifically, let us know what problems you're using the bra for, how the bra has improved your daily functioning and activity level (i.e. what can you do now that you couldn't do before?), or how it has reduced your pain. We'll send your comments on to all the right people. Look for updates on this campaign in future newsletters!
New Hook & Eyes Make Donning the Compressure Comfort® Bra Easier After listening carefully to patient feedback, Bellisse® has improved the Compressure Comfort® Bra by adding new hook and eye closures to the front. After adjusting the back to get comfortable compression, put the bra on, then close the hook and eyes at the top and the bottom of the front zipper. The bra will be held in place while you zip! (Please note that this feature is being phased into existing inventory, and may not be available on every garment currently being shipped).
Bellisse co-founder Lesli R. Bell, PT, CLT-LANA, received an Outstanding Achievement Award at the spring meeting of the Vermont Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. Bell was recognized for her work as a caregiver and advocate for women with breast and truncal lymphedema. In particular, Bell was honored for her invention (together with Jogbra creator Lisa Lindahl) of the Compressure Comfort® Bra, which has brought comfort to truncal lymphedema patients in Vermont and all over the United States.
"Health Journal: Efforts Mount to Combat
Lymphedema, A Devastating Side Effect of Cancer
Care", by Tara Parker-Pope The Jan-March 2004 issue of Lymphlink, the official publication of the National Lymphedema Network, focused on breast and truncal lymphedema, offering three articles on the subject. Two have been added, with permission, to the Bellisse website:
"Truncal Lymphedema", by Esther Muscari-
Lin
"Focus on Breast and Chest Wall
LE"
The June 1st episode of Jeopardy featured the answer: "Hinda Miller & Lisa Lindahl sewed 2 athletic supporters together to make the first "sports" one of these." (The question, of course: "What is a bra?") Lisa wasn't watching, but friends and family called to let her know that her name had appeared on the show. Do you know you've made it when you've been immortalized as a trivia question?
Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. - Henry James
This newsletter contains articles that we believe will be of general interest to the Bellisse community of lymphedema patients, their family and friends, and their health care providers. Sometimes, however, we have news and links that are of interest to only one of these groups. To be sure that you are you are in all the categories that interest you, please click on the "Update my profile" link at the very bottom of this newsletter. As always, Bellisse will not share your information with anyone else.
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