One of the complications that can develop from lymphoedema is cellulitis, which can cause psychological issues for sufferers.
Bates added: “People who have this disease either don’t know they have it, or they hide because it’s unattractive.
“You know, you’ll see people with very swollen legs or swelling arms, they hide at home.
“So if the doctor that they go to doesn’t know about lymphoedema — and there are many, many millions of doctors who don’t know about it — your disease will progress to its more difficult stages.”