s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 3

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r a c h e l l e v i n T r o x e l l 1970 - 2008

O u r S t O r y

The story of LympheDIVAs began in Philadelphia when two young breast cancer survivors,

Rachel Troxell and Robin Miller, developed lymphedema, a side effect of breast cancer

treatment that can cause permanent swelling in the arms. Their physicians and lymphedema

therapists recommended a compression sleeve as the most effective way of controlling the

swelling. When they researched the options for the sleeve they found that the only ones

available were rough textured, heavy, hot, beige, and bandage-like. Frustrated and dismayed

over the lack of options they had for compression sleeves, Robin and Rachel met with Kristin

Dudley, a fashion designer, to discuss their idea of creating a more elegant and comfortable

compression sleeve.

In late 2007, Robin left the company. Soon after, Rachel discovered her breast cancer had

returned. While she was being treated, she continued building LympheDIVAs, which brought

her much joy during a difficult time in her life. Rachel died January 22, 2008, at the age of

37. Her determination and compassion to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors is very

much ingrained in the spirit of LympheDIVAs.

Today, LympheDIVAs’ products can be found in retail locations nationwide and internationally.

At Rachel’s request, her father Dr. Howard Levin and her mother, Judy Levin took over the

responsibility of running the company which their daughter helped found. In August of 2010,

Rachel’s little brother, Josh Levin, joined the company and is now running it with his parents.

They all hope that LympheDIVAs’ compression apparel will continue to inspire breast cancer

survivors everywhere to feel as beautiful, strong and confident as Rachel was.

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a b O u t ly m p h e d e m aWhat is the lymphatic system and lymphedema? The lymphatic system is structured

like a web, occasionally draining into small nodes that filter the lymphatic fluid. The system

works through the pumping power of the body’s muscles. When the muscles contract they

increase pressure within the lymph vessels, which causes the fluid to move. A series of one-

way valves ensure that the lymphatic fluid moves in the right direction. Lymphedema is a

build up of protein rich fluid in the subcutaneous interstitial compartment. This occurs when

either lymph fluid is impeded from flowing through the lymph vessels and lymphatic system

or there is an excess of fluid that exceeds the carrying capacity of the lymph system. The

fluid collects in the subcutaneous and deep tissues causing swelling of the affected area

and predisposes to chronic inflammation.

What happens when lymphedema occurs in people after breast cancer treatment?

When a sentinel node is removed, a number of nodes are removed, or if the nodes receive

radiation therapy, the body is at risk for lymphedema. The loss of lymph nodes and vessels

can result in lymphedema in the arm or other parts of the body. The amount of fluid

collected is variable and at this time is unpredictable because of the variability of the

insults and the lymphatic system itself.

Why is it important to be aware of this? Any event which stimulates the formation of

increased protein fluid and floating cells between the cells in the arm (such as infection,

trauma and sun burn) or slows the flow of lymph fluid out of the arm (such as having blood

pressure taken with a cuff) can increase the chance of fluid accumulating in the arm. Since

no truly curative therapies exist, medical intervention is focused on preventing occurrences

and recurrences and is most often dependent on patient self-management and adherence.

Prolonged or severe fluid build up can result in a more severe and permanent lymphedema.

How do LympheDIVAs sleeves and gauntlets help manage lymphedema?

Lymphedema is managed and treated through a variety of therapies. Compression garments

are one such therapy. Our sleeves and gauntlets are Class 1 (20-30mmHg) and Class 2

(30-40mmHg) medical devices. Like other sleeves they utilize graduated compression with

the highest pressure at the wrist and hand, which acts as a pump to encourage the lymph

vessels to push the lymph fluid toward the body. Our garments are regularly tested to

ensure proper compression.

How do LympheDIVAs sleeves and gauntlets make lymphedema management easier?

We believe that a majority of sleeves that are prescribed and purchased are worn a few

times and then hidden in a drawer because of distaste and discomfort. Knowing that a

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compression sleeve cannot reduce the chance of occurrence or swelling by remaining in the

drawer, we have made lymphedema management easier by creating a fashionable garment

with superior comfort. A LympheDIVA enjoys wearing her sleeve because it is stylish,

fashionable and fun. Women are more likely to derive the benefits of the garments simply

because they are more likely to wear them and less likely to suffer from complications!

Who should wear a LympheDIVAs sleeve? Our garments are appropriate for those

with mild to moderate lymphedema, or for those at risk. Our Class 1 sleeves are not

recommended for severe swelling.

When should a sleeve be worn? We recommend consulting with a doctor or lymphedema

therapist in order to find the most appropriate therapy for you. All women who are at risk for

lymphedema or who have mild to moderate lymphedema should, at a minimum, wear their

sleeve and gauntlet during air travel and while exercising.

r i S k r e d u c t i O nGuidelines for reducing the risk of lymphedema for those who have had lymph node removal and/or radiation

av o i D B u r n sProtect your arm from sunburn. Use oven mitts when cooking & avoid splash burns from steaming foods. Do not use hot tubs or saunas.

K e e p a h e a lT y D i e TMaintaining a healthy weight lowers the risk for developing lymphedema. Lower sodium intake.

av o i D m u s c l e s T r a i nIt is okay to do normal activities & exercise with the affected arm, but don’t overdo it! Consult with you doctor about the level of activity that is right for you.

av o i D i n f e c T i o nHave blood drawn & shots given on the unaffected arm. Keep your skin clean and protected from cuts and scratches. Always carry band-aids!

K e e p s K i n p r o T e c T e DUse pH balanced lotions and soaps. Protect hands with gloves when cleaning.

av o i D r e s T r i c T i v e c l o T h i n gWearing tight jewelry on the affected arm or hand will create a tourniquet effect. Blood pressure should be taken on the unaffected arm or thigh when both arms are affected. Carry briefcases and/or purses on the opposite arm.

Do WAtcH for: a full feeling in your arm • a difference in size between the affected and non-affected arm • weakness in your arm or not being able to move it as far • when pressing on the affected arm for twenty seconds, the impression of the finger remains

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m e d i c a l a d v i S O r SLympheDIVAs works with physicians, physical therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners and

physician assistants to assure our customers that the products we design are medically

correct. Our medical advisory team oversees the development of our products and helps us

monitor product testing.

a n D r e a l . c h e v i l l e , m . D .Medical School: Harvard Medical School

fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Dr. Cheville currently is Senior Associate Consultant at

the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, specializing in cancer

rehabilitation, lymphedema, and survivorship. Until August

2006, Dr. Cheville directed the Cancer Rehabilitation and

Lymphedema Programs at the Hospital of the University of

Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. A leader in the field of

cancer rehabilitation, pain control and symptom management,

Dr. Cheville has published papers on cancer rehabilitation and is a nationally recognized

h o wa r D a . l e v i n , m . D .Medical School: New York University, 1966

Dr. Levin is the father of the founder of LympheDIVAs, LLC,

Rachel Levin Troxell. Following graduation from Medical

School, he was trained in Internal Medicine in the Harvard

training program at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Mass.

He spent the next four years as a post doctoral fellow in

Immunology and Rheumatology at Harvard University and

a year at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel as a

Fullbright Scholar. In 1972 he then received an appointment

as Senior Staff Fellow in the Immunology Department of the

National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. From 1976-1988 he practiced Internal

Medicine and Rheumatology and served as Medical Director of the 70 physician San

Jose Medical Group in San Jose, California. After several years as a medical director for

an insurance company he spent 10 years as a management consultant and partner with

Milliman, USA, an Actuarial and Management Consulting Company. Dr. Levin is currently vice

president and chief medical officer for LympheDIVAs.

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expert in this field. Lymphedema is a primary focus of Dr. Cheville’s research, and she

serves on the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Lymphedema Network and is

a board member of the Lymphology Association of North America. Dr. Cheville has been

recognized in Philadelphia Magazine’s May 2002, 2005, 2006 Top Docs issue, and has been

recognized by Best Doctors in America 2005-2006.

J e a n n e T T e Z u c K e r , p h . D .Graduate School: New York University, 2002

Jeannette Zucker holds a clinical Doctorate in Physical

Therapy from New York University. She received her

lymphedema certification from Klose Norton School of

Lymphatic Therapy in 2002 and started her career at

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in 2003.

In 2004, Jeannette assisted with the establishment of the

lymphedema therapy program at the main campus and as

the Lymphedema Clinical Specialist she continues to work

on further developing the service to promote the awareness,

early diagnosis and risk minimization of lymphedema. She leads the support groups for

patients who have, and are at risk, for lymphedema through the Post-Treatment Resource

Program. Jeannette received her LANA certification in 2005 and was awarded the Susan

G. Komen Conference scholarship by the National Lymphedema Network (NLN) in 2006.

In 2007, she helped to develop the Lower Extremity Lymphedema Prevention Program for

MSKCC and joined the Scientific Committee of the NLN. She continues to serve on the

committee and provide lectures at the biennial NLN Conferences. In 2009, Jeannette

joined the faculty of the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy. In 2010 she joined the

editorial board of the NLN’s electronic newsletter E-Channel. Her current focus on treatment

intervention is edema management regardless of etiology, scar management, and improving

facial mobility and skin mobility through manual lymphatic drainage, myofascial release,

compression therapy, kinesiotaping and laser therapy.

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new! p e a c o c KSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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S t u n n i n g i n n O vat i O n SWe set out not to just make a pretty sleeve but also one that is more comfortable and

improves the managment of lymphedema.

360° sTreTch

We are dedicated to creating medically correct compression apparel for the savvy breast

cancer survivor with lymphedema that will inspire her to feel beautiful, strong and confident.

The medical requirements are obvious, but the emotional aspect of healing is important and

often ignored. A positive mindset can often lead to a much better physical response.

O u r p h i l O S O p h y

Allows our garments to stretch as your arm bends and flexes and

prevents binding at the elbow.

graDuaTeD compression

All garments are available in Class 1 (20-30mmHg) and Class 2

(30-40mmHg) compression.

moisTurewicKing

Pulls sweat away from the body, cools the arm and is fast drying!

aloe veraA fabric finishing process which adds unscented aloe vera moisturizing

micro-capsules for added softness and skin protection.

fine KniTA fine knit construction producing a smooth lightweight surface and

replicating a ‘second skin.’

We believe that getting the hottest and latest patterns to our customers is important. Our

team studies the newest trends in patterns and colors by scouring the runways, attending

trendspotting trade shows and sourcing fashion publications. Just like the fashion power-

houses in New York, London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo, we introduce new patterns biannually

in the Spring and Autumn.

a fa S h i O n S tat e m e n t

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S i z i n g c h a r t

small meDium large

a. palm 15 – 18.7 CM 19 – 21.9 CM 22 – 26 CM

B. wrisT 15 – 19 CM 16.5 – 21.6 CM 19 – 23.5 CM

c. miD lower 17.8 – 23.2 CM 23.5 – 28.7 CM 28.9 – 34.3 CM

D. miD upper 21.6 – 39.4 CM 27 – 45 CM 32.4 – 50.5 CM

h o w T o m e a s u r eHave a friend help you to get the most accurate measurements. Relax your arm by resting

it on a table, bending it slightly to create a small bend in the elbow. Your arm should not be

completely straight, nor fully bent.

a. palm Let your fingers relax, and bring the measuring tape so it’s just under your

knuckles. Pull gently so the tape has no slack. Record the measurement.

B. wrisT Hold measuring tape around your wrist, going over the little bone

on the outside. Pull tape to the point of gentle tension; there should be no slack, but

you should not be pulling so hard that the tape creates an indentation. Record the

measurement.

c. miD lower Move the measuring tape up your arm so that it goes around the thick

part of your forearm. Use the same amount of gentle tension and record the measurement.

D. miD upper Bring the measuring tape to the upper part of your arm, halfway between

your elbow and your armpit. If you have any extra skin here, gather it together as much as

possible. You should hold the tape a bit tighter here so that all your skin is encircled evenly.

Record the measurement.

lengTh Measure your arm length from the top of your arm (axilla) to your wrist to

determine your sleeve length.

If you are in between sizes, please consult a medical professional, professional fitter,

lymphedema therapist or LympheDIVAs to ensure proper fit.

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aPALM B

WRIST

MID LOWERc

DMID UPPER

lengThSHort 37 – 44 CM

reGuLAr 43 – 56 CM

Caring for your garment is as easy as 1-2-3! Following the care instructions will ensure that

your garment lasts the full four to six months while retaining compression.

Turn down the top of the sleeve so it’s folded over itself.

To remove sleeve, hold the top of the cuff and pull down until it slips off your hand.

Do noT Do any of The following

Doing any of these can potentially ruin the garment and compromise the compression.

hand wash • wring dry • line dry • dry clean • use any chemical solvent,

fabric softener, bleach or any other laundry additive

g a r m e n t c a r e

Place the garment

in a lingerie bag to

prevent snagging. 1Machine wash in

warm water using

a gentle detergent. 2Machine dry at

medium heat.3

g a r m e n t d O n n i n g

Pull the sleeve over your hand until the end of the sleeve

is at the pictured position on the wrist.

Gently pull the rest of the sleeve evenly up over the arm to

the armpit. Make sure the sleeve is equally spread over the

whole arm and that there are no constrictions or wrinkles.

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S O l i d c O l O r Sbei chic

fuchsia

mocha

onyx

white

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c r y S ta l S

swir l & r ibbonAVAILABLE ON ANY SOLID COLOR

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new! c u r r e n T sSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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g e O m e t r i canna GRAY damask

damask BEI CHIC damask FUCHSIA

damask MOCHA

stella CHARCOAL

stella NAVY warrior BLUE

warrior PURPLE warrior SEAFOAM GREEN

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diva dots

sapphire

g i v i n g b a c k

c4yw beige

c4yw pink

Sales for items below contribute to Young Survival Coalition, Living Beyond Breast Cancer

and the Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer (C4YW). Sales for the items on

the facing page contribute to Crickett’s Answer for Cancer.

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inked

grand krewe versailles

g i v i n g b a c k g i v i n g b a c kliz lange

cosmos

interstellar

starburst

supernova

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m a r a K e s hSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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pa i S l e y

blue bandit

namaste

purple paisley

white vercache also avai lable in Vercache

black paisley

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new! s Ta r ry n i g h TSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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new! g r e aT wav eSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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f l O r a lbali NIGHT bali SAND

bali SUNSET bloomin’ betty LIGHT

moonlight

chloe nirvana

nouveau primrose

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B l o o m i n ’ B e T T y D a r KSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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s w e e T p e aSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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f l O r a lromantic rose

scarlet

tattoo blossom

tranquility

zahara

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tat t O Obodhi beige also avai lable in Mocha

viva vida

lotus dragon tattoo

south pacific

wrapture

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new! D a h l i aSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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l a c edarling DARK

darling FAIR

lovely lace

midnight lace

shadow

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D a r l i n g Ta nSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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a b S t r a c t

new! fa c e T sSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

butterfly meadow camouflage

camouflage PINK denim diva

firefly BLUE firefly GRAY & YELLOW

firefly PURPLE firefly SEAFOAM GREEN

luna neon glow

spice sunburst

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new! fa c e T sSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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i n t O t h e w i l dfeatherie

leo leopard

serpentine

special ThanK youWe couldn’t have done this catalog without our amazing models, these lovely ladies

are breast cancer sur v ivors and real - l i fe divas. Many thanks to Linda, Laur ie M.,

Paula, Laur ie R., Jeanette, Bonnie, Olade, and Rachel. Special shout -out to Jess-Et -

Mia Bout ique, Spr ingside Park Greenhouse and 1Berkshire for lett ing us shoot in

their beaut i ful spaces!

sTay in Touch SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST: lymphedivas.com/mail ingl ist .asp

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/lymphedivas

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: twit ter.com/lymphedivas

FIND US ON TUMBLR: lymphedivas.tumblr.com

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new! p e a c o c KSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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new! irisesSLEEVE & GAUNTLET

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i n d e xDesign name page ANNA GRAY 15

BALI NIGHT 22

BALI SAND 22

BALI SUNSET 23

BEI CHIC 12

BLACK PAISLEY 19

BLOOMIN’ BETTY DARK 23

BLOOMIN’ BETTY LIGHT 22

BLUE BANDIT 19

BODHI BEIGE 26

BUTTERFLY MEADOW 30

C4YW BEIGE 16

C4YW PINK 16

CAMOUFLAGE 30

CAMOUFLAGE PINK 30

CHLOE 22

COSMOS 17

CRYSTAL RIBBON 13

CRYSTAL SWIRL 13

CURRENTS new! 14

DAHLIA new! 27

DAMASK 15

DAMASK BEI CHIC 15

DAMASK FUCHSIA 15

DAMASK MOCHA 15

DARLING DARK 28

DARLING FAIR 28

DARLING TAN 29

DENIM DIVA 30

DIVA DOTS 15

FACETS new! COVER, 31

FEATHERIE 32

FIREFLY BLUE 30

FIREFLY GRAY & YELLOW 30

FIREFLY PURPLE 30

FIREFLY SEAFOAM GREEN 30

FUCHSIA 12

GRAND KREWE 16

GREAT WAVE new! 21

INKED 16

INTERSTELLAR 17

IRISES new! 34

Design name page LEO LEOPARD 32

LIZ LANGE 17

LOTUS DRAGON TATTOO 26

LOVELY LACE 28

LUNA 30

MARAKESH 18

MIDNIGHT LACE 28

MOCHA 12

MOONLIGHT 22

NAMASTE 19

NEON GLOW 30

NIRVANA 22

NOUVEAU 22

ONYx 12

PEACOCK 8, 33

PRIMROSE 22

PURPLE PAISLEY 19

ROMANTIC ROSE 25

SAPPHIRE 15

SCARLET 25

SERPENTINE 32

SHADOW 28

SOUTH PACIFIC 26

SPICE 30

STARBURST 17

STARRY NIGHT new! 20

STELLA CHARCOAL 15

STELLA NAVY 15

SUNBURST 30

SUPERNOVA 17

SWEET PEA 24

TATTOO BLOSSOM 25

TRANqUILITY 25

VERSAILLES 16

VIVA VIDA 26

WARRIOR BLUE 15

WARRIOR PURPLE 15

WARRIOR SEAFOAM GREEN 15

WHITE 12

WRAPTURE 26

WHITE VERCACHE 19

ZAHARA 25

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