We build innovative lymphoedema solutions that work

Lymphoedema is a life-long, painful, and incurable disease. Linked to a poorly functioning lymphatic system, it is characterised by a painful swelling of a limb or body region. Along with pain and discomfort, it can also lead to infections due to reduced immunity, restricted movement, depression, poor self esteem, low quality of life, and much more. 

There is no cure for lymphoedema, and it needs to be managed everyday.

The lymphatic system has 3 main functions:

  1. To return fluid that is squeezed out of the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) back into the blood stream.
  2. To help the immune system by filtering infections and housing immune cells.
  3. To transport lipids and proteins, which aids in the digestion of fats and proteins.

A lymphatic system that is no longer able to effectively transport fluid, results in an accumulation of this fluid in the interstitial spaces. This fluid accumulation is called lymphoedema. Fluid residing in an area for too long can result in stiffening tissue, known as fibrosis. It further blocks fluid from flowing out of the affected area and increases the severity of lymphoedema.

There are two types of lymphoedema. Primary lymphoedema is related to genetic factors that result in abnormalities in the lymphatic system structure and function. Secondary lymphoedema is caused by an external trauma to the lymphatic system, and is most often caused by surgical lymph node removal, and/or radiation associated with cancer treatment.

There is no cure for lymphoedema. It is a lifelong condition that must be managed every day. The aim of lymphoedema treatment is to manage symptoms, prevent the condition getting worse, and improve quality of life.

Treatment covers five main areas including manual lymphatic drainage (specialised massage), bandaging, compression therapy, skin care and exercise. The prescribed treatment(s) depend on the state of the affected area. The amount and location of fluid, fat, and fibrotic tissues determines the choices clinicians will make for treatment. Tissue composition can fluctuate quickly due to many factors, and is impossible for patients to determine at home.

The challenge is that the most effective assessments and treatments often have to be delivered by a specialised therapist, often in a designated location, and present a large, on-going expense to the patient. This limits the access most patients have to regular assessment and, therefore, effective treatment.

Better monitoring leads to better management.

Patients need real-time lymphoedema tracking at home, to measure fluctuations in their condition. This gives patients control over when to visit clinics and seek treatment.

Clinicians need accurate, regular, and specific tissue measurements to better inform treatments and deliver effective lymphoedema management.

Cenofex Innovations is developing a medical device that can effectively assess lymphoedema when and where a patient needs it.

This unique, innovative technology will transform lymphoedema management and return freedom and functionality to the millions of patients living with this debilitating condition.

When I heard I had breast cancer, I thought it was a death sentence. To have survived that, and then discover I have lymphoedema - I feel like I have been given a life sentence.

- Jenny, Breast cancer-related lymphoedema patient

Lymphoedema affects many

The number of people living with lymphoedema is growing. More people are surviving cancer than ever before, and some cancer treatments damage the lymphatic system. This means that more people are at risk of developing lymphoedema after their cancer treatment. Once diagnosed, patients have the condition for life - which means this need is not going away.

Australia
~386,000
+33,000 / year

United States
~21,000,000
+1.4M / year

Globally
250,000,000
and growing

Severe disease costs everyone more

  • Patients with lymphoedema

    Reducing lymphoedema severity reduces the patient costs of managing the disease.

    Patients with severe lymphoedema face greater burdens than those with milder forms. Costs of managing the swelling, in the form of compression garment purchases and clinic visits, are greater and more frequent for patients with worse condition [1,2]. Many patients cannot afford the level of care they require for the severity of their condition, and may receive ineffective treatment as a result. Much of these management costs are out-of-pocket and could be reduced by real-time tracking to inform when it is best to attend a clinic.

    The lack of control over one’s life and abilities contributes to significant indirect costs due to employment difficulties, stress, and travel.

  • Patients at risk of lymphoedema

    Detecting and intervening prevents disease progression and management costs.

    For patients at-risk of lymphoedema, detecting and treating before it becomes symptomatic using low-cost compression therapy has been shown to alleviate the disease in 92% of in post-cancer treatment patients [3]. Giving at-risk patients a way to measure and detect pre-clinical onset of swelling enables them to seek preventative treatment.

  • Healthcare systems

    Reducing disease severity reduces cost burdens on healthcare systems.

    In Australia, patients with severe lymphoedema make between 2 to 4 times as many Medicare claims per year to assess and treat their condition compared to those with pre-clinical or mild symptoms [4]. These costs are related to accessing Allied Health services, GP visits and state-based compression garment schemes.

    Hospitalisation admissions due to cellulitis infections are also high among patients with severe lymphoedema. Early warning of swelling episodes could prevent this risk.

Remote monitoring improves outcomes

Remote and rural areas have limited access

In Australia, a significant portion of patients are outside of metro areas, while clinicians are concentrated in cities. Limited and irregular clinic access makes managing and assessing for lymphoedema difficult.

Remote and at-home monitoring gives patients peace of mind. Tracking their condition and acting before the symptoms need significant treatment is key to returning control to the patient’s hands.

Cenofex Innovations is developing the framework for taking accurate measurements from our wearable sensor suite, analysing measurement for changes in tissues using AI and machine learning, and delivering actionable insights from these changes.

Compelling reasons to change

Compared to the traditional lymphoedema model-of-care, prospective surveillance through smart monitoring can save up 50% of costs for patients with lymphoedema. Prophylactic monitoring can save up to 80% of costs for patients at-risk lymphoedema.

Smart monitoring that leads to early intervention can prevent up to 50% of moderate-severe cases, and up to 30% of mild cases. Instead, such cases are more likely to remain mild, or subclinical, respectively.

By shifting disease severity from moderate to mild, an Australian can save ~$700 out of pocket costs for lymphoedema management per year. This figure is closer to $1500 in the USA.

Avoiding severe disease would also reduce lymphoedema Medicare expenditure by around $250M a year.

Prospective surveillance that identifies and treats subclinical lymphoedema before it progresses to full disease can reduce costs by up to 80% compared to a traditional treatment model.

Monitoring those at risk, and early treatment intervention can prevent progression to full disease in up to 92% or patients.

Resources

  • What is lymphoedema?
  • Lymphoedema management
  • PDQ® Supportive and Palliative Care Editorial Board. PDQ Lymphedema - Health Professional version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated Mar 22, 2023. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/lymphedema/lymphedema-hp-pdq Accessed Apr 20, 2023. [PMID: 26389244]
  • PDQ® Supportive and Palliative Care Editorial Board. PDQ Lymphedema - Patient version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated Aug 23, 2021. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/lymphedema/lymphedema-pdq. Accessed Apr 20, 2023. [PMID: 26389292]
  1. Boyages, J., et. al. (2017). Financial cost of lymphedema borne by women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 26(6), 849–855.
  2. Bygrave, A., Whittaker, K., Paul, C., Fradgley, E. A., Varlow, M., & Aranda, S. (2021). Australian experiences of out-of-pocket costs and financial burden following a cancer diagnosis: A systematic review. Int. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 1–24
  3. Ridner, S.H., et al. (2022) A Comparison of Bioimpedance Spectroscopy or Tape Measure Triggered Compression Intervention in Chronic Breast Cancer Lymphedema Prevention. Lymphatic Research and Biology. 20(6):618-628.
  4. Stout, N.L., et. al (2012) Breast cancer-related lymphedema: comparing direct costs of a prospective surveillance model and a traditional model of care. Physical Therapy. 92(1):152-63.
  5. Armer, J., et al. (2013) Best practice guidelines in assessment, risk reduction, management, and surveillance for post-breast cancer lymphedema Current Breast Cancer Reports 5(2): 134-144.
  6. Morgan, P., et al. (2005) Health-related quality of life with lymphoedema: a review of the literature International Wound Journal. 2(1): 47-62.
  7. Norman, S., et al. (2008) Lymphedema in breast cancer survivors: incidence, degree, time course, treatment, and symptoms Journal of Clinical Oncology 27(3): 390-397.
  8. Oremus, M., et al. (2012) Systematic review: conservative treatments for secondary lymphedema BMC Cancer 12 (6): 1-15.
  9. Ridner, S.H. (2013) Pathophysiology of lymphedema Seminars in Clinical Oncology 29 (1): 4-11.
  10. Rockson, S. & Rivera, K. (2008) Estimating the population burden of lymphedema Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1131: 147-154
  11. Sierla, R., et al. (2013) Lymphedema following breast cancer: regions affected, severity of symptoms, and benefits of treatment from the patients' perspective Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 17 (3): 325-331.
  12. Skobe, M., (2000) Structure, function, and molecular control of the skin lymphatic system The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 5 (1): 14-19.