RWJ Hamilton Launches Lymphedema Fund to Help All in Need
Program is first of its kind in Mercer County

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is proud to announce the launch of a program that will improve the healing and comfort of lymphedema sufferers who lack the financial means to purchase lymphedema compression garments, such as sleeves and gloves.

Pictured (left to right) are Bernadette Hendrickson, a Lymphedema patient who is being fitted for a sleeve; Patricia Tatriai, Coordinator of Breast Consultation Program at CINJ - Hamilton; and Linda Smouther, a physical therapist and a cancer survivor.

The Lymphedema Fund is the first of its kind in Mercer County. The program provides lymphedema sleeves and gloves for residents throughout Mercer and Burlington Counties, as well as parts of Ocean and Monmouth Counties, who lack the personal financial means to purchase these beneficial treatments and comfort aids. Members of the community are invited to support this initiative with a tax deductible donation to the RWJ Hamilton Foundation.

Removal or Radiation of Lymph Nodes Puts Cancer Patients at Risk
Lymphedema is a swelling that occurs when lymph fluid accumulates in an area of the body, typically a limb. The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system that works to remove and filter metabolic wastes from the body's cells by transporting the lymph fluid from the spaces between cells. When there is an impairment of the lymphatic system and when lymph nodes are damaged or removed as a result of cancer, lymphedema can occur. Often times, it follows surgery or radiation treatment regimens for breast cancer, affecting the arm on the same side that the cancer was detected. According to the National Institutes of Health, 5% of women who undergo lymph node removal or radiation for breast cancer will develop lymphedema within one year; 30% will develop it within 10 years; and 65% will develop it within 20 years.

Breast cancer is not the only threat. Both men and women who undergo surgery that includes lymph node removal or radiation for gynecological cancers, prostate and testicular cancer, colon, bladder, kidney, lymphoma and melanoma are at risk for developing lymphedema.

Compression Garments Provide Real Relief
If the lymphedema is determined to have been caused by infection, antibiotics are often prescribed. However, another common treatment, compression garments, are not covered by Medicare or many healthcare insurance plans so individuals without the financial means to purchase this comfort aid must suffer. The costs for compression garments range from $50-$300 per garment and are not typically reimbursed by insurance.

Linda Smouther, a community member and physical therapist who is also a cancer survivor, is the champion for this project. "Linda knows firsthand the discomfort and pain that lymphedema causes, as well as the therapeutic benefits of compression garments when appropriately prescribed by a physician," says RWJ Hamilton Foundation Vice President Karla Stein. "Thanks to our partnership with Linda, we are able to start the program with monies raised at her five-year cancer-free celebration. We are hoping the community will support our efforts to we can reach all those in need."

Lymphedema Fund Targets All Those in Need
Together with a select group of trained individuals, Linda is introducing the Lymphedema Fund to physicians, hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers, leaving with them a specific Lymphedema Fund referral form that pre-qualifies individuals to apply for the funds to purchase their compression garments.

At their physicians' recommendation, patients will be referred to a licensed social worker at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, located on the campus of RWJ Hamilton, for an in-depth interview process that will further qualify their need for the garment(s). Qualified patients will be fitted by specially-trained personnel and the cost of their compression garments will be covered through this new fund. For more information about how you can support or benefit from the Lymphedema Fund, or to learn more about the RWJ Hamilton Foundation, visit rwjuhhfoundation.org or call 609.584.6581.

More About RWJ Hamilton Foundation
Founded in 1984, the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Foundation is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization that raises funds to support patient care services and special projects for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton. RWJ Hamilton relies on contributions and monies raised by the Foundation to continually grow and support the community's healthcare needs. Led by a Board of Directors, the Foundation depends on the generous support of private donors, corporations, family foundations and charitable trusts. An active Auxiliary and the Young Professionals Group organizes and host events that encourage community support. In addition to offering a variety of major gift and planned giving opportunities, the Foundation's signature fundraising events include a Golf Classic, Autumn Affair gala, a 2K walk/5K run, and a wine/beer networking social called "All in Good Taste".

Recent projects that have benefited from the generous support of the Foundation include: the Ambulatory Surgery Waiting Room renovation, the four-story Lakefront Patient Tower addition, the four contemplative "Grounds For Healing®" gardens, an interfaith chapel, cardiac rehabilitation treadmills, blanket & robe warmers, nursing and physician education, stroke program, community education and outreach programs.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.