World Lymphedema Day
Diverse crowd celebrating World Lymphedema Day
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates Video
WORLD LYMPHEDEMA DAY IS MARCH 6! WORLD LYMPHEDEMA DAY IS MARCH 6!

Join us in supporting World Lymphedema Day!

Our Goal

To make cures for lymphedema and lymphatic diseases a global priority.

Get Involved

We look forward to every advocate from around the world planning virtual events. Click here to see all of the ways that you can get involved in World Lymphedema Day, and click here to access WLD flyers, logos, and other printables. Also, if you would like to submit a World Lymphedema Resolution to your local or state government, you can find templates here. Be sure to let us know if you plan to do this! WLD is an annual advocate-driven celebration, which was established in 2016 by the United States Senate in response to a bill written by the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). The year 2021 marks the 6th year of World Lymphedema Day, and we will be celebrating with a Virtual Global Celebration on March 6th. Tickets are available here. This is our opportunity to join together as one as we educate the world about the extent of this global "lymphedemic™." This includes lymphatic diseases (LD), primary and secondary lymphedema (LE), lipedema (LI), lymphatic filariasis (LF), lymphatic malformations (LM), and the full lymphatic continuum (LC) of diseases impacted by the lymphatic system.

Send Your Stories

Here is something you can do right now to show your support. Send us your stories to post on the LE&RN website for the world to see. These stories went to the US Congress in 2020 and paved the way for the establishing of a National Lymphatic Commission to study the need for lymphatic research at the National Institutes of Health. Now, we want to tell the stories of those throughout the world as we continue our efforts with the World Health Organization (WHO). Share your story here, and see all of your stories posted here.

TELL YOUR STORY
POST YOUR EVENT

Learn More About Lymphatic Diseases

Lymphatic Continuum Disease Lymphedema Lipedema Lymphatic Malformations Lymphatic Filariasis
Lymphatic Continuum (LC) refers to the continuum of diseases impacted by the lymphatic system including heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.
Lymphedema (LE) is a chronic, debilitating lymphatic disease that results in disfiguring swelling in one or more parts of the body due to a damaged lymphatic system. WHO estimates over 250 million people suffer from LE worldwide. The swelling is caused by a combination of lymph stagnation and the structural alterations in the tissues. LE can be genetic or inherited (Primary) or it can occur as a consequence of a surgical procedure, infections, radiation therapy, or other forms of physical trauma (Secondary).
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) threatens 1.4 billion people in 73 countries. Commonly known as elephantiasis, 120 million are currently infected by this mosquito carrying parasitic disease. Over 40 million of those affected by LF are disfigured and incapacitated by the disease.
Lipedema (LI) is an adipose tissue disorder or a lipid metabolism disorder that affects approximately 11% of women, often in the hips and legs, but also in the upper arms. Lipedema fat is relatively unresponsive to diet and exercise. Lipedema is both an excess buildup of fat cells in a particular area, and the expansion of those fat cells.
Lymphatic Malformations (LM) are rare, non-malignant masses consisting of fluid-filled channels or spaces caused by the abnormal development of the lymphatic system. LM is usually apparent at birth or by two years of age and most commonly affects the head and neck.