Technology Revolution Eases Lymphedema Load

How did we stay electronically connected in thediagnosis like an evil step-brother? How I longed
1990s? The technology of 1997, the year Ithen for my trusty VAIO. I scanned my email,
developed lymphedema, seems primitive bytyped necessary replies, held my breath for as
today's standards.long as possible-and ran out the door.
From 1995 until I retired in May 2008, I flewIn my next approach I searched for hotels with a
domestically and internationally for business. E-mailbusiness center before I left home. If the hotel
presented a serious travel challenge to me whenoffered this amenity, I would fly laptop-free and
lymphedema entered my life. How could I lift arely on the availability of hotel computers. While I
laptop and suitcase with one arm when climbingenjoyed the smoke-free environment of the
stairs to airplanes without jet ways? Could I relybusiness center (at least in the U.S.), I usually had
on strangers? Would crew members break unionto wait for a computer, or felt rushed while
rules forbidding them to lift passengers' carry-ons?checking e-mails because a line was forming
These were no staircases to heaven.behind me. Another disadvantage? The possibility
When I traveled with my husband Jim, as I did onof leaving confidential information on one of these
my first international trip since havingpublic computers by not logging off or by
lymphedema, I just borrowed his laptop. I didn'tchecking the wrong box.
care how heavy it was. He toted it; I tapped on it.As the last decade of the twentieth century
But in 1998 when I flew to Munich by myself, Idissolved into the new millennium with no Y2K
needed an alternative. Jim came to the rescue byimplosion, technology evolved to grace us with
buying me a lightweight Sony VAIO laptop.personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as smart
Armed with this electronic arm-saver I headedphones that enable surfing the Net without cables
for the airport, leaving behind the external CDor strong muscles. What a godsend for
drive and USB port adapter. But alas, in thearm-challenged travelers like me who don't want
airport the VAIO slipped from my rolling luggageto lift more than a few pounds with their
on its maiden voyage, crashing to the ground. Mycompromised arm for fear it will swell! If the
first laptop was useless at my destination. On mysmaller screens, keyboards and font of PDAs
next trip the newly repaired laptop made it safelyprove too challenging, the netbook is a clever
to my hotel room, where I enjoyed itscompromise between the palmtop and laptop
now-primitive capabilities.computers.
For example, the underprivileged VAIO offeredNow that I am retired, I rarely travel abroad. I'm
dial-up, but no broadband capability. In the U.S. Inot in much need of pint-size Internet gadgetry
used the extra data jack on the hotel roomas in years past. But at least I benefited from
telephone to access e-mail. In Germany I usuallyrecent advances: a company-issued Blackberry
called in a technician, who would hook me up tosaved me in London and Munich on the last few
the hotel's dial-up network.trips I made abroad. And I'm thrilled that others
A year later I decided to try a new travel tactic.with lymphedema can travel alone and connect
Leaving my VAIO at home, I arrived in Munichwith others angst-free with these hand-held
with arms free of extra luggage, hopes high.wonders.
After checking into my hotel room I headed forMy old SONY VAIO sits in a cabinet drawer. I
an Internet cafe, which seemed the perfectbought a special card that fits into one of its
answer to the lymphedema-technology dilemma.ports to enable wireless broadband access, but
Using a computer in the café cost little. Nordoubt I'll use the antique anymore. Not destined
was the wait long. But as soon as I opened thefor Craig's List, the VAIO serves as my reminder
door, cigarette smoke enveloped my senses.of how far technology has come to bring comfort
Would lung cancer follow my breast cancerto cancer survivors with lymphedema.