Report on World Lymphedema Patient Day – March 6, 2025
Manzoni Hospital in Lecco
This year, ITALF celebrated World Lymphedema Patient Day in the Aula Magna of Alessandro Manzoni Hospital in Lecco. The event was organized by colleagues from the Rehabilitation Unit, Tavani and Sellaroli, along with the Physiotherapist case manager Rinaldo Caldirola, who has been committed to lymphedema patients for decades. Indeed, in addition to the Lymphido patient association, the hall was packed with patients who followed the proceedings with great interest. The General Director of the ASL and the President of the Medical Association of the Province of Lecco extended their greetings.
At the opening, the undersigned delivered a greeting on behalf of ITALF, presenting Rinaldo Caldirola with the Massimo Favini Award for the best scientific communication at the National Congress in Rome. This was followed by greetings from Evangelos Dimakakos (current ISL President) via live connection, ILF International Coordinator Christine Moffat (also joining remotely), Prof. Francesco Boccardo (ESL President), Dr. Sciuscio (National Coordinator of the Edema Section of SIMFER), who also presented remotely the current status of elastic garment prescriptions, emphasizing the ongoing confusion at the national level. Then, it was the turn of the Lymphido Association and the local representative of LILT.
The undersigned also read a letter from the Mayor of Genoa, who once again responded to ITALF’s request to celebrate the day by lighting up the fountain in Piazza de Ferrari in green for the evening.
The event continued with contributions from Cestari, Sellaroli, Caldirola, Elodie Stasi, Angela Piantadosi, Maurisio Ricci, Francesco Boccardo, and the association’s lawyer Maria Teresa Santangelo. They discussed key issues currently being followed by the association: the current state of territorial healthcare assistance, the territorial network, patient and family awareness, guidelines and prescription of elastic garments, and the management of pediatric patients (a topic that is often overlooked). The undersigned also announced that an ERASMUS project has been underway for about a year, involving multiple countries to train professionals dedicated to pediatric lymphedema care. For Italy, Sapienza University has been actively involved with the support of some of us.
The lawyer also highlighted the many medical-legal issues frequently encountered by patients, including (as further emphasized by the undersigned) the loss of healthcare cost exemption for patients with permanent consequences from oncological diseases. Due to the recently approved law on oncological oblivion, many have lost the 048 code after being officially declared cured. In a direct connection, Prof. De Lorenzo described how, in close collaboration with ITALF, the FAVO Association (Federation of Voluntary Oncology Associations) is working on initiatives, including parliamentary efforts, to resolve this issue affecting thousands of people.
The day concluded with video greetings from colleagues from other countries (Szuba from Poland, Dimakakos from Greece, Borman from Turkey, Isabel Forner Cordero from Spain, Gurusamy Manokaran from India, and Paula Frederichi from Brazil). They expressed their solidarity for the initiative, confirming their commitment and that of the scientific societies they represent for future battles in support of these patients.
The event took place in a hall filled with patients and healthcare professionals from various disciplines, in a serene atmosphere enriched by the austere majesty of Mount Resegone on one side and the shores of Lake Como on the other, which inspired Manzoni’s most famous work known worldwide.
See you next year, with heartfelt thanks to therapist Caldirola and colleagues Tavani and Sellaroli for their strong commitment in organizing the event and for the warm hospitality provided.
The full video of the event will be published on the ITALF website.
Dr. Sandro Michelini
President of ITALF
