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June 4, 2010
Divas delight through design
Compression stockings help manage the effects of cancer surgeries.
TRUDE LABOSSIERE HUEBNER
Rachel Levin Troxell’s dream to design and create fabulously fashionable compression sleeves for women diagnosed with lymphedema resulting from breast cancer treatment has come true – many times over. Her tikkun olam movement has spread worldwide, with women from Australia to Nigeria sporting bright paisleys, pink blooms and racy leopard prints on their arms.
Diagnosed in 2005 with stage three breast cancer, Levin Troxell, then age 35, underwent lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment left her with lymphedema.
Lymphedema refers to fluid retention and swelling caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system. This system is responsible for the flow of interstitial fluid to the thoracic duct and then on to the bloodstream, where it is recirculated to the body’s tissues, providing cells with nutrients and a means of waste removal. Lymphedema prevents lymph fluid from draining. Secondary lymphedema, which results from trauma to the lymphatic system, refers to a blockage, often a result of surgery, which can include removal of lymph nodes in the axilla. Secondary lymphedema can also result from radiation, which is also a standard treatment for breast cancer, said Dr. Karen Gelmon, a medical oncologist at the B.C. Cancer Agency in Vancouver. Lymphedema can be mild to severe.
Faced with the dun-colored compression sleeves used to manage the swelling associated with the condition, Levin Troxell decided to spice up the sleeves with vibrant color and lively prints. At the time, the California native and University of Berkeley graduate was working as a graphic artist in Philadelphia. She joined with Robin Miller, another graphic artist and fellow breast cancer survivor, and fashion designer Kristin Dudley to establish LympheDIVAs. The trio went on to enter and win third prize in the Drexel University business incubator competition, and they used the seed money to start manufacturing medically correct and FDA-approved LympheDIVAs compression sleeves.
And then, the unthinkable happened. Levin Troxell’s breast cancer metastasized to her liver. She wrote about her treatments on her blog and, at the time, reported: “on a positive note, the LympheDIVAs phone has been ringing off the hook! We’re getting orders from all over.... I’m proud of us.” Just a couple of weeks later, she let her friends and customers know she had entered hospice care.
On Jan. 22, 2008, Levin Troxell died. Judy and Howard Levin vowed to continue their daughter’s tikkun olam. Judy Levin, a clinical social worker, and Howard Levin, a physician, left retirement and took helm at LympheDIVAs.
Often associated with the more radical breast cancer surgery of many years ago, lymphedema still occurs today in 15 to 30 percent of women who undergo surgery for breast cancer. An equal opportunity scourge, lymphedema can affect men who have been treated for prostate and other cancers, particularly in areas with a high concentration of lymph nodes.
According to Gelmon, full cancer care, which improves the survival of the patient, may bring with it other conditions, including lymphedema, but that most of these “side-effects” are bearable and for which one can plan. Recurrent disease is, in effect, worse than the lymphedema, noted Gelmon. However, if you know you are due for breast cancer surgery, she suggested that you measure your arms before the procedure so that you are better able to assess any changes, noting that if you are right-handed, your right arm will be bigger, and if you are left-handed, your left arm will be bigger.
People can try to avoid lymphedema by remaining physically active during and after treatment. When lymphedema is unavoidable, prompt treatment can help to reduce its severity and minimize the risk of infection. For some, using a mechanical lymphe press or having manual lymph drainage, involving a specific kind of massage, may provide relief.
Many medical professionals recommend wearing a compression sleeve throughout the day, during air travel and during vigorous exercise to help the lymph move through the body.
Regular compressions sleeves tend to be medical in appearance. Levin Troxell created colorful, fun, “divalicious” sleeves, bringing fashion to medicine. Her desire was to empower women to move beyond having a chronic condition, and to honor their inner diva.
When asked in a telephone interview what makes LympheDIVAs so popular, Judy Levin replied, “The sleeves are breathable, air gets in, the moisture wicks out – it is a Lycra and nylon blend. Women will wear this sleeve. It doesn’t do any good lying in the drawer.”
The sleeve is latex-free, and check out the designs: animal prints, fake Pucci, damasks, all in trendy colors with names like “Neon Glow,” “Tattoo Blossom” and “Moonlight.”
The company continues to double its annual sales, and the online store makes it easy for women around the world to manage their condition with flair. The Levins are making the rounds of trade shows and have a low minimum wholesale order requirement so independent breast cancer boutiques can stock the sleeves, bringing the product to as many women as possible.
There is a sleeve with my name on it. “Bloomin’ Betty – Dark” will be coming to me soon!
To view a gallery of designs and for more information on compression sleeves and coping with lymphedema, visit lymphedivas.com.
Trude LaBossiere Huebner is a freelance writer, a breast cancer thriver and Canadian editor of Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions.
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