Every September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to talk about an illness that affects thousands of people across the UK, while still receiving less public attention than many other forms of cancer.
Blood cancer is not one single disease. It consists of more than 100 different types, including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). While these conditions differ, they can all have a significant impact on individuals, families and communities.
More than 40,000 people are diagnosed with blood cancer in the UK every year, and more than 310,000 people are currently living with or in remission from blood cancer. Blood cancer is also the fifth most common cancer in the UK and the country’s third largest cancer killer, with more than 15,000 people dying from it each year.
These figures highlight why awareness matters. Blood Cancer UK describes blood cancer as a ‘hidden cancer’, with many people having limited awareness of what it is and what its symptoms can look like.
Symptoms can vary considerably depending on the type of blood cancer, but may include:
- Persistent tiredness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Repeated infections
- Breathlessness
- Night sweats
- Lumps or swelling
- Bone or joint pain.
However, persistent or unexplained symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
For anyone affected, blood cancer is about much more than a medical diagnosis. It can affect everyday life, work, relationships and emotional wellbeing. It can also have a profound impact on family members, friends and colleagues.
That is why awareness is important not simply for recognising symptoms, but for creating an environment where people feel able to talk, ask questions and seek support.
Blood Cancer UK found that 76% of people with blood cancer said they were not told that their condition was a type of blood cancer when they were diagnosed, highlighting just how important clear communication and understanding can be.
For organisations and workplaces, awareness months can provide a useful opportunity to encourage conversations about health and wellbeing without making assumptions about what individuals may be experiencing.
This September, taking a moment to learn more, share reliable information or simply start a conversation can help bring blood cancer out of the shadows.
Awareness may seem like a small action, but sometimes a conversation is where understanding begins.
Blood cancer facts | Blood Cancer UK
Why we need to #SayBloodCancer | Blood Cancer UK