Svenska Ödemförbundet. The Swedish Association – SÖF – is the Swedish patient and interest association for people with: Primary and secondary lymphedema, Lipoedema, Dercum’s disease, Venous edema, Vascular Anomalies (Vascular Defects), Immobilitetsödem, Related complications. The Swedish Edema Association was established in 1999 and is today a nationwide association that works at local, national and international level to improve the care of patients with chronic edema. We work intensively for: a fairly equal care in Sweden regardless of diagnosis and place of residence to strengthen the patient’s rights, that the lymphatic system is noticed and that more research is done on this topic so that we can get e.g. better patient education and new treatment methods, that we should learn to live with our illness and experience an optimal person-centered diagnosis as well as care based on the patient’s needs
The Swedish Edema Association is constantly striving to inform and influence caregivers and decision-makers as it is still lacking in both knowledge and knowledge of chronic edema. One of the goals is to influence the local community to get help in your particular county / region and therefore great effort is put into starting up local associations around Sweden. In October 2018, SÖF has local associations in Skåne, Stockholm, Uppsala, Västra Götaland and Örebro. SÖF is constantly working to increase the number of members as we have a greater opportunity to influence the more we are. You can be a member as a patient, support member, healthcare staff or as an entrepreneur / organization. No matter which membership you choose, you are invited to a variety of events that SÖF organizes each year and you always have a supportive and helpful hand when seeking care.