Connie Cunningham Lymphedema Program

The Connie Cunningham Lymphedema Program was established by Connie’s daughters in partnership with BCFO as a way to honor their mother, a three-time breast cancer warrior and lifelong Ozarks resident. After a decade-long fight, Connie passed away from recurrent metastatic breast cancer on November 7, 2022.

As part of her first breast cancer treatment in 2013, Connie had several lymph nodes removed. However, it wasn’t until many years later that she developed stage 3 lymphedema in her left arm, which greatly impacted her quality of life and her self esteem. Although lymphedema is a relatively common (but seldom talked about) side effect of lymph node removal, Connie’s insurance did not cover lymphedema garments.

In October 2020, she turned to BCFO for help. Connie received generous financial assistance, and she was able to order the custom garments she needed to effectively manage her lymphedema. She was so grateful for BCFO’s support, and her daughters hope to celebrate her legacy by providing similar resources to other women in the local community.