Over three hundred delegates from over 20 countries arrived at Ascot Racecourse on the 21st April for the first International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF) conference. The event spanned three days and the venue was stunning, bathed as it was in UK spring sunshine. The conference was opened by Professor Christine Moffatt who explained that the theme was 'facing the global challenge of lymphoedema' and this was certainly reflected in the programme which featured sessions from eminent speakers from the USA, Brazil, Australia, France, Canada, Israel, Sweden, The Netherlands, as well as the United Kingdom. Topics ranged from the psychosocial impact of lymphoedema, the challenge of predicting breast cancer related lymphoedema, MLD and the use of massage in the community setting, healing wounds, the challenge of funding services and the problems faced by those living with and treating the condition in the developing world.

The patient experience was also represented with talks showing different patient perspectives given by three LSN members; Jed Bailey spoke about the difficulties of getting a correct diagnosis and living as a man with lymphoedema; Lindsey Summerhill shared her thoughts about staying positive and managing this potentially disfiguring condition as a young woman; and Caroline McGlynn whose young daughter has lymphoedema gave a very moving talk about the unique challenges of caring for a child with the condition. Health care professionals from the UK and around the world were visibly touched by all these sessions and it ensured the conference was unable to ignore the reality of lymphoedema for those living with it.

On the 22nd April, the LSN hosted the patient conference which ran concurrently with the main event. 100 patient delegates from around the UK were joined by nearly 50 overseas patients and health care practitioners. The day was chaired by LSN Chair Anita Wallace and Professor Moffatt joined her in welcoming the delegates. The day focussed on the four cornerstones of treatment which were presented by LSN's Nurse Advisor, Lymphoedema Clinical Nurse Specialist Denise Hardy. Denise is an experienced practitioner and a very skilled communicator who managed to give honest, realistic, amusing and practical information that both challenged and supported those in attendance.

Professor Peter Mortimer gave an interesting session about some treatments that are less well known, including kinesiotaping and laser therapies and surgical interventions such as lymphatic transplants and liposuction. Interestingly, Dr Alex Munnoch, consultant plastic surgeon in Scotland and the only surgeon in the UK currently appropriately trained to carry out this specialist form of liposuction had joined the session as a delegate to listen and was soon roped in to answer questions and very helpfully joined the panel for discussion afterwards which was a real bonus. Feedback about the day has been exceptional with all delegates feeling it was a worthwhile day and most rating it five out of five!

There was a vast exhibition featuring many of the garment manufacturers as well as related pharmaceutical products and key organisations. The UK organisation for health care professionals, the British Lymphology Society, used the event to good effect and hosted a champagne reception to launch their lymphoedema awareness week and the '5 things' guides, designed to educate General Practitioners and others about the condition. The LSN had a stand and was extremely busy throughout the three days with visits from nurses, doctors, researchers, academics and patients. Those visitors from overseas were amazed by the quality of the information we produced and particularly impressed by the positive relationships we have built with health care professionals, academics and researchers and felt this was unique in the world of lymphoedema - many took away information to give to their own patient groups and the LSN has been asked to produce a 'how to set up an effective patient group guide' by the International Lymphoedema Framework.

The event also featured a gala dinner and the presentation of the inaugural ILF awards. The LSN was thrilled and excited to win a 'Partnership Award' for its outstanding contribution to the work of the ILF. Barbara Burbidge collected the award on behalf of the LSN. Professor Peter Mortimer, LSN's Chief Medical Advisor and LSN Chair, Anita Wallace, were both honoured with a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for their outstanding contribution to the understanding and management of lymphoedema. Whilst no one associated with the LSN does it for recognition or glory it was wonderful to see our work publicly recognised in the world arena and we all felt extremely proud of our Medical Advisor, our Chair and ourselves.

This event was truly inspirational but also challenging, it was humbling to see those delegates from the developing world who achieve so much with so little, encouraging to hear about the developments around the world in treatments and research but also very challenging to realise that we have a long way to go in the UK to ensure that all those living with lymphoedema have access to a correct diagnosis and a suitable level of care - but after three such wonderful and informative days it actually seems possible that we might achieve it! Thank you to the HealthComm team who organised the conference, Bedrock Exhibitions who provided conference support and especially to Professor Moffatt and team for the inspiration and hard work needed to put on such an extraordinary event!