Rosemary Paul made headlines as Australian Playboy’s first Playmate of the Year, but it is her support for a serious cause that is attracting attention today.Having made a career out of modelling and using her ‘‘assets’’, Ms Paul suffered the cruellest blow in having a mastectomy at the age of 40, following a diagnosis of breast cancer.Yesterday, Ms Paul was a guest speaker at the launch of research into a ‘‘lymph sleeve’’ that will, when produced, provide relief for sufferers of breast cancer-related lymphoedema, or swelling of the arm.The research is a collaborative effort between the University of Wollongong’s School of Health Sciences, Graduate Medical School and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), based at the Innovation Campus.ACES materials engineer Professor Geoff Spinks said work on the lymph sleeve, billed as ‘‘intelligent fashion’’, began two months ago and was being funded by a $200,000 grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation.The sleeve will be made of a revolutionary new, lightweight ‘‘electro-material’’ which is capable of not only detecting swelling, but responding by squeezing the arm to enhance lymph flow.It will replace the present, uncomfortable compression sleeves worn by cancer patients.Prof Spinks said that by the end of the two-year study phase, it was hoped the team would be in a position to trial the sleeve on patients.Professor Phil Clingan, who is the director of medical oncology at Wollongong Hospital, said there was no cure for lymphoedema, which is suffered by 20 per cent of breast cancer survivors.‘‘At the coalface, I see lots of women who have gone through treatment and end up with a swollen arm and we can’t offer much to them,’’ he said.‘‘So it’s pleasing that we’re going to have fashion as well as function in our research project.’’Ms Paul, 53, who became famous as the first cover girl for Australian Playboy in 1979, and model for the No Knickers campaign and ‘‘I Can’t Get By Without My Mum’’ deodorant, spoke as an ambassador for the breast cancer foundation.‘‘Every woman has a feature about them that they really love, and mine were my breasts. I had really good ones, and they were very good to me. They got me work here in Australia, and in Asia and in Europe,’’ she said.‘‘So when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and told I would have to lose one of them, I was devastated.’’Within two weeks of diagnosis, Ms Paul underwent a mastectomy of her right breast. She has since undergone reconstructive surgery.Ms Paul, who today works as a lymphatic therapist, said breast cancer limited a woman’s choice in clothing, and this was compounded by ‘‘the dreaded compression garment’’.‘‘It’s skin toned, it’s tight, it’s heavy, it’s restricting, it’s hot, it’s uncomfortable; fingers to shoulder, telling the world that we have a problem ... but it’s all we’ve had, until now.‘‘So I say to you researchers, well done ... I look forward to the day when I don’t have to wear [the old sleeve]; when we can all enjoy the benefits of a new, lightweight piece of intelligent fashion.’’