Lymphedema Bracelets & Necklaces
Whether you have lymphedema or are at risk of developing it, wearing a lymphedema bracelet or necklace is essential. Thankfully, Lauren’s Hope offers a wide range of medical alert jewelry, including necklaces and bracelets, all of which can be custom engraved to suit your particular needs.
So First, What is Lymphedema?
The Cleveland Clinic explains, “Lymphedema is swelling in various areas of your body that happens when something affects your lymphatic system [...] When your lymphatic system doesn’t work well, your body accumulates fluid and may begin to swell. The swelling typically affects your arms and legs, but it can affect other areas of your body, too.”
While commonly associated with breast cancer, mastectomies, and other breast cancer treatments, Cancer.net explains that:
“Lymphedema can occur in people with many types of cancers, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Melanoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Penile cancer
- Prostate cancer”
Why Wear Lymphedema Medical Alert Jewelry?
Protecting your impacted limb is one thing you can do to help reduce your risk of developing (or worsening) lymphedema. Again according to the Mayo Clinic, “Protect your arm or leg...If possible, avoid medical procedures, such as blood draws and vaccinations, in your affected limb.”
This is where wearing a lymphedema medical alert bracelet (sometimes called a, “limb alert”) comes in handy. In an emergency, lymphedema medical alert bracelets help medical personnel know that you are at risk of developing (or worsening) lymphedema. In this way, they can work to protect you by not performing tests on your impacted side if possible. Even outside of an emergency setting, lymphedema medical alert jewelry may help you remember to avoid having routine blood draws or blood pressure taken on your impacted side.
The experts at Kaiser Permanente state, “Wear a lymphedema alert bracelet…They help people avoid treatments to their affected limbs that could make their condition worse. These include blood pressure readings, injections, or blood draws.”
Which medical alert jewelry should cancer patients and survivors wear?
The first thing to know about choosing lymphedema medical alert jewelry is that the choice is entirely yours. Our whole collection of women’s medical alert bracelets is custom engravable, as, of course, are our men’s medical IDs and med IDs for kids.
Simply choose the style you like, and we’ll engrave it to meet your needs as a limb alert, lymphedema bracelet, breast cancer medical ID bracelet, or any other form of med ID. You are not limited to a small selection of jewelry, because our products are custom engraved just for you.
BreastCancer.org shares some helpful information about jewelry and lymphedema risk, stating, “It’s up to you to remind physicians and nurses about [your risk] at every appointment. You may wish to invest in a lymphedema medical alert bracelet you can wear on the affected arm.” However, they also offer this advice: “Avoid wearing tight watches, bracelets, or rings on your affected hand or arm.”
This is why we recommend that cancer survivors and others who are at risk of, or managing, lymphedema choose comfortable bracelets that are easy to put on and take off. Here are a few options:
Cuff Bracelets: We highly recommend cuffs to those looking for a medical alert bracelet for lymph node removal or others at risk of lymphedema. You can easily pull them wider and gently squeeze them to your desired fit, making them excellent options for anyone experiencing swelling of the arm, wrist, or hand.
Adjustable Magnetics: These adjustable styles slide on easily over your hand. The magnetic closure allows you to adapt the fit so it's comfortable and secure every day.
Stretch Bracelets: We hand-craft our stretch bracelets on high quality elastic, which means you can easily slide them on and off over your hand without clasping. Because swelling can cause dexterity challenges, these are great options when you want the look of a stylish beaded bracelet without the need to manipulate a clasp.
I look for any bracelet or necklace that has a clearly identifiable medical caduceus symbol. I need
to know information that can help me [...] best assess you (i.e. no BP on right side).”
-Zachary DiGiusto, NRAEMT
Engraving Your Lymphedema Medical Alert Jewelry
Whether it is for a history of breast cancer, uterine cancer, or any other cancer impacting your lymphatic system, for a diagnosis of lymphedema, or due to a lymphedema risk, the recommended engravings will be similar. Here is what we recommend listing on limb alerts:
- FULL NAME
- YOUR LYMPHEDEMA RISK/STATUS
- TREATMENT RESTRICTIONS
- OTHER CONDITIONS OR ALLERGIES
- EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER(S)
Lauren’s Hope Personalized Lymphedema Alert Necklaces
A medical alert necklace for women or men with a lymphedema risk is a simple option that is particularly helpful for people whose wrists and/or dexterity are impacted by their diagnoses. Just as with our lymphedema medical alert bracelets, every dog tag or pendant we sell is custom engravable to suit your individual needs.
Shop Lymphedema Medical Alert Jewelry at Lauren’s Hope
Whether you have lymphedema or are at risk for it, wearing lymphedema bracelets (limb alerts) is a simple step you can take each day to help protect yourself. When you choose a Lauren’s Hope medical ID, you get much more than a great selection. You can expect:
- Quality materials
- Clear, easy-to-read engravings
- Individual customer care
- A free one-year warranty
- FSA/HSA eligibility
- Free personal shopping consultations