lymphedema surgery- Dr.Corrine Becker

natalie2610

Hi 2 u all ,I am looking for people that have lymphedema and had undergo the procedure of  dr. Corrine Becker - for Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer, especially ones who have primary lymphedema in both of their lower limbs - I would love to hear from their experience since I live in Israel , and here, unfortunately not alote has been done to cure or relief patients from this illness

 thanks - natalie

brazos58

bump

jacee

natalie....Dr. Marga Massey is one of the few surgeons performing these procedures in the US. She has trained under Dr. Becker. If you go to her website, she has a page where she highlights monthly patients. Some of these are patients who have undergone VLNT surgery.  Her website is www.drmarga.com

Joni

jacee

She also has a website devoted totally to lymphedema.   www.nilymph.com

natalie2610

thanks 2 u all...since I live in Israel - Europe is closer for me, also I would prefer to be operated if and when , by dr. Corrine becker herself ' since she's the one who pioneered this procedure , anyway I contacted dr. Corrine becker by e mail and she responded- telling me to do a lymphatic MRI and an up- to -date Lymphoscintigraphy ,so she can tell if I'm a good candidate for this operation...if so ,I believe I will fly to Paris soon

kcshreve

Keep us updated on your news.  It's very interesting. Can you get the testing done easily where you are? 

natalie2610

 

Hi - in Israel we have public health insurance( sponsored by the state) , so I scheduled with a  specialist here to approve this kind of test  , the technology we have offcourse

Keep u posted

anna4969

Dear Nati

Please do keep us posted as I am very interested in her procedure as well.  We have physician here in the united states that has been trained by Dr. Becker to do the very same procedure.  So anything you find out about this innovative procedure, I would love to hear about.  I was really hoping your post would have prompted a reply from someone who had this procedure so we could hear first hand about it..  ))

olearca

Yes, please please do keep us posted.

natalie2610

hi....still looking for patients that have done LNT , as for Dr Becker , she will be visiting Israel in this November - i will meet with her then ,she will also be preforming Lnt in a few secondery patients,  offcourse i will keep u posted afterwards....natalie

Nitocris

Hi Nati,

A fellow citizen of yours, Dorit Tidhar has developed a method called ALT Aqua Lymphatic therapy. This is an exercise program for lymphedema in an aquatic environment.  It does not cure LE, but can help alleviate some symptoms;  the water provides hydrostatic pressure on the whole body; the deeper you go, the more pressure you have (i.e. stronger pressure on the legs).

We don't have ALT certified therapists here in Finland, but I bought Dorit's DVD for upper extremities and with my support group, we have been practicing the exercices and self-massages in the local therapy pool once a week since last autumn.   It does get the lymph going and it is very soothing.  There is also a program for lower extremities.

 Dorit was working in Canada, but she is now back in Israel since the beginning of July.  Here is the link to her web site.  Under "resources", you can see several short videos and there are several articles.  ALT could be of help for you while you wait for your surgery.  

http://www.aqua-lymphatic-therapy.com

Take care 

natalie2610

thanks for the info  - since i live here and its a very small country , ive heard of her long time ago , and met her a few times.... i personally do alote of self manegment - that includes sports , swiming and self drainage massage and bandaging , i got to amazing resultes by my self and since im a young women its pritty easy for me  to maintain it with out help....but gled for dorit shes making a name for her self ....i think Israelis r good at that ...take care

Anonymous

Nati- There's another thread on here started by a member named HappyTrisha.  She will be having surgery with Dr. Vasile and Dr. Becker in NY.  She is still completing her pre-op testing but may be someone good to talk to either by a PM or posting on her thread.  The title of it is "Meeting with Dr. Becker next Friday".

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/64/topic/789491?page=1 

natalie2610

thanks kate....ull see ill already wrote there a littile while ago...since i know in NY there r a few doctors such as Messy , vasile , dr joseph dayan ect. i was hoping to hear more from patients that have allready done this procidure.... but i guess will just  have to b patient..

Anonymous

Sorry, I didn't see your post!  Can Dr. Becker get you in contact with previous patients?  I had NS and I've had my BS contact me several times asking if I'd be willing to talk to a new patient.  Maybe she would be willing to contact some of hers to see if they'd be willing to share their experience.  Just a thought.  Good luck with everything!

Nitocris

Hi,

FYI.  Here is a series of short videos in which Dr. Becker answers questions about Lymph nodes transfer. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv2Rwp_4Urw&feature=relmfu  - Would you describe what an autologous lymph node transplant is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp9mQ6LAh4o&feature=endscreen - Who should consider having a lymph node transplant to help with their lymphedema?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrxWt9-YEic&feature=relmfu - What are the criteria for a lymphedema patient to be eligible for a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5V4kCG9JAs&feature=relmfu  - What can a patient expect at their first meeting to discuss having a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdd4m7bVI2E&feature=endscreen  - What are the potential donor sites for a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS1FuQaxZNs&feature=relmfu  -  What factors determine which donor site you will choose for an autologous lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxGsyllcF70&feature=relmfu - What can a patient do to prepare for a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mbzoKH_5fE&feature=relmfu  - What are the common side effects from a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69h248-b-2s&feature=relmfu - What are the benefits of a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EL6YMcH-KI  -  After having a lymph node transfer, at what rate will my lymphedema improve?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEP3bayzz3k&feature=relmfu  - What is the recovery process like after having a lymph node transplant?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJAe1iZt6TA&feature=player_embedded  - After having a lymph node transfer, how do you measure progress and success of the procedure?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhFgLrTfdSY&feature=endscreen - What are the success rates with lymph node transplants in managing and reducing lymphedema?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqBwtK-cnA8&feature=relmfu  - Where in the United States can I have a lymph node transfer surgery?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwDN_eXHj_s - Does the lymphedema ever come back after lymph node transfers are done?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KptvFl2Nu4  - Is a patient who has had lymphedema for years still able to have a lymph node transplant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQsz_kyZnU4 - When having a lymph node transplant, is there a risk of lymphedema developing at the donor site?

In the video about success rates, the figures leave me a bit skeptical, particularly the ones regarding patients stopping using compression garments and therapy.

 1. Clinically:

98% of all the patients are improved.
Normalization in 40% of patients after 2 years after having moderate lymphedema.
Rate of infections: 2% remaining for all chronically infected.
80% of patients have diminished or stop physiotherapy, garments etc.
Quality of the skin, color, elasticity thickness is 98% improved.

Perimetry decrease each month (1 to 10cm) especially the first six post op months.

natalie2610

hi

r u working for her????

i just told you not relevant

and what is it relevent to this specific post which talks about LNT operation????

pls delete it

Nitocris

Hi,

What's the problem? All these videos are about Dr. Becker answering questions and giving information about Lymph Node transfer.  What is not relevant in this?

Many lymphers ask questions about LNT and Who would be better qualified to answer questions than the surgeon herself.  

For your information, NO I am not working for her. 

Binney4

Nitocris, thanks for rustling up all those videos! And I'd agree with your skeptcism, as she has no reliable studies to confirm any of those figures, and has stated she has no plans to do any. I keep hoping some of the other surgeons doing this procedure would start keeping careful records and publishing their results, but even those who appear to be keeping records don't have plans to publish. Without that we really have no useful statistics.

Still, the videos are spot-on and to the point--right from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

We rely for a lot of our LE help on the shared experiences of other lymphers, and for this the same will have to be our reference. So I really hope that, with all the surgeons she's trained working in English-speaking countries, more of those 98% of patients will be along to share their experiences with us.

Thanks, Nitocris!
Binney

Anonymous

Nitocris- Just want you to know I appreciate all those links.  I know it took you awhile to do all that so thank you!  The more information we can share the better for all.

natalie2610

sorry - i taught those r link of dorit tidhar...not a problem then...tnx 4 Sharing

natalie2610

well - ive seen all this Gr8 movies of dr corinne becker and W o w....im so pleased with what ive heard....cant wait to meet her in person in this November....TNX again Nitocris for sending them....sorry for miss understanding u B4

natalie2610

That’s it my friends

In Hebrew we say "Mazal Tov" which means congratulations...

I have done it

Met Dr Corinne Becker (from Paris) and Dr josh Levin (from New York)

Both plastic surgeons last week on the 11^th, at Tel Aviv health center - Israel

And after meeting with them had the Surgery on the 14^th

Along with me there where 4 other Israelis patients that had undergo this procedure as well-

2 woman who had had breast cancer and 2 others like me with primary lymphdema at there lower limbs

Along with Becker and josh Levin there where other Israelis doctors in the operating room –that watched dr becker's and levin's work , the whole thing took about 2 and a half hours

They took 4 nodes close to my right chest line (near my right exile) and put it above my left knee – since from my left feet and calf up to my left knee is most of my problem

I was at the hospital since the day of my surgery 14^th – Wednesday till Sunday and now I am home

I feel o.k. – off course I have to rest all day long with my feet up, the places where they took the nodes from– looks like a very small cut – and I hope it will scar well, also where they put them does not look big at all, so I'm not worried about the scaring– after all they are plastic surgeons..

It will take about a month until I will go back to normal activity

Dr Becker explained me that the nodes that were transplanted have to "get used to their new home" at my knee

And after a month they will start growing lymfh vessel's about one millimeter a day – so it will take up to six months until I will see an improvement and about 2 years to final results

I will have to continue MLD as usual (physiotherapy) and bandaging as if I hadn’t done any surgery for the next 2 years.

On 13 of February I will fly off to Paris for a check up – and meet with dr Becker again.

There I will have an MRL-lymphgraphy(the special MRI trisha was talkin about on her writing's above) it's an exam that  among other can show you how much lymph vessels have grown from the new lymph nodes – here in Israel we don’t have it yet

, but I know in New York you have it already – so no need for you folks to fly off to Paris

That’s all for now

Very happy how every thing turned out- I consider it my own private miracle, I guess I was at the right place at the right time

can't wait to see what will come of it

 

Leah_S

מזל טוב ורפואה שלמה

I hope you heal well and the surgery is successful.

Going to Paris doesn't sound like a negative side to this!

All the best.

Leah

dassi52

Amazing. Mazal tov. As you see I live in Israel as well (Jerusalem) and my LPT just told me that a Belgian surgeon was here to teach the lymmph node transfer surgery to one of the Israeli well-known plastic surgeons. (I think Barneah but I am not sure about the name). We said we wouldn't do it that quickly with the Israeli surgeon, only when he has more experience, so it's good you went with Dr. Becker. I do hope for you that it will be successful and have the results you are looking for.

natalie2610

thanks for all the warm wishes

pleased to tell you Dr. Becker will visit Tel Aviv Health center in 3 monthes  again 

she will be operating herself - for more info Lea and Dassi you can approch me on the matter

Dr Becker seemed like a very experienced doctor to put my trust in her- with

High confidence in her ability to help and heal lymphedema

She is the top surgeon and the pioneer of LNT method

Very happy I was in her capable hands