Medical device to help with lymphedema

(WTNH) -- Sue Callison wears a sleekly designed compression sleeve to manage the lymphedema or fluid build up that can come from breast cancer treatment.

"People don't even know I'm wearing a medical device," Callison said. "I did a double mastectomy, I did a hysterectomy, I did an ancillary node dissection, chemotherapy and I topped it off with a pulmonary embolism," Callison said.

That aggressive approach is due to Sue's strong family cancer history. Older sister Kimberly died from breast cancer and now Sue is dealing with chronic lymphedema.

News 8 asked how swollen her arm would get if she wasn't wearing the sleeve. Callison said, "This arm can get to be twice the size of this arm."

She helped to fine tune the look of this high tech sleeve designed in Italy.

"What these ridges do is, as you move it expands and contracts," Callison said.

They are aimed at minimizing the swelling and are much more appealing than the compression garments she first wore.

"I have to say I was so discouraged because it set me right back into that world of feeling like I was a patient, feeling very uncomfortable in my own skin," Callison said.

Her hope is it will encourage others to put on the prescribed approach.

"What ends up happening is the longer you go without your garments, if you're going to have it as a chronic condition is, your arm will continue to fill with lymphatic fluid and get bigger, and bigger and bigger," Callison explained.

Four years after diagnosis, feeling and looking good.

"I feel really good and I guess what I'm here to do is, I want others to get to feel the feeling that I have," Callison said.

For more information, visit: www.lscdistribution.com