Madeleine Stockden: celebrating 25 years with Lifecare

A smile makes it all worth it

Madeleine Stocken, an APA Cancer & Lymphoedema Physiotherapist, has been inspiring us with her incredible work at Lifecare for over 25 years.

What she finds most rewarding about being a physio is making a massive difference in her patient’s physical and mental health in an area that not many others understand.

It’s why she mainly works with cancer patients, specialising in lymphoedema physiotherapy.

We spoke to her about her specialty area and the essential role physiotherapy plays.

Can you explain what lymphoedema is and why physiotherapy is crucial in managing it?

Lymphoedema is a condition where the accumulation of excessive amounts of protein-rich fluid in the tissue results in swelling of one or more regions of the body and occurs when there is a failure in the lymphatic system.

Management of lymphoedema by specialist lymphoedema therapists helps prevent infection (cellulitis), as well as managing and reducing oedema to alleviate the associated symptoms and improve quality of life.

Primary lymphoedema is a congenital condition from abnormal development of lymph vessels. Secondary lymphoedema is the most common type of lymphoedema when there has been damage to the lymphatic system, commonly from the effects of cancer treatments or trauma, Filariasis, infection and chronic inflammation.

I address the management in many ways, including compression garment prescription, manual lymph drainage, compression pump therapy, exercise, education, and photobiomodulation therapy.

How important is early intervention in lymphoedema, and what signs should patients and healthcare providers look for?

Best practice is for early intervention, which may prevent progression. Patients and providers should be aware of risk factors and anyone at risk should be offered care from an appropriately trained lymphoedema therapist (see ALA tick of approval from lymphoedema.org.au).

What advancements in lymphoedema management and physiotherapy are you most excited about?

ICG mapping of lymphatic pathways, helping diagnose and assist in management (not yet in WA).

Can you share a memorable story or experience with a patient undergoing lymphoedema treatment?

Recently helping a patient smile again after having extensive treatment for head and neck cancer, albeit there were also tears that came after the smile.

Thank you Madeleine for sharing your incredible knowledge and expertise about such an important area.

It has been an absolute pleasure for all of our physiotherapists and support staff to work with Maddy for such a long time.

We are incredibly fortunate and proud to have such a skilled, passionate and caring physiotherapist as part of our team.

Congrats on 25 years Maddy!