Table 2.

Clinical and social characteristics of participants (P) from Canada

	P 1	P 2	P 3	P 4	P 5	P 6	P 7	P 8
Gender	F	F	F	F	F	M	M	M
Age (years)	70	67	77	66	57	33	45	77
Site of lymphoedema	Both legs	Both legs	Both legs	Right arm	Right arm	Left leg	Both legs	Both legs, with some swelling of both arms
Cause of lymphoedema	Primary: Always had big legs	Venous insufficiency. primary: First noticed swelling in her 20s.	Swelling first appeared 5 years ago. ? Cause	Mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy 1995	Right radical mastectomy 5 years ago followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy	Primary: First appeared when 16 years old	Cancer of anal canal treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy 5 years ago. Swelling appeared 3 years ago.	Does not know cause. Had groin surgery 5 years ago for extensive infection.
ISL stage	ISL 3	ISL 2	ISL 3	ISL 2	ISL 3	ISL 2	ISL 3	ISL 3
Family support	Lives with husband	Lives with husband	Lives alone (Widow)	Lives with her son temporarily before building her own house	Lives with husband and three sons	Lives with wife and 1‐year‐old son	Lives with wife	Lives alone
Work status	Retired	Retired	Retired	Retired	Retired	Works full time as a Public Health Inspector	Unable to work	Semi retired. Runs his own business

ISL, International Society of Lymphology.