September marks Blood Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign dedicated to highlighting a group of cancers that often go unnoticed. Despite being the fifth most common cancer in the UK and the third biggest cancer killer, blood cancer still doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Each day, around 110 people are diagnosed with blood cancer across the country.
Blood cancer is not a single condition but an umbrella term that includes leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). The statistics are sobering: every day, 27 people are diagnosed with leukaemia, and 14 people die from the disease. Despite medical progress, only half of leukaemia patients live beyond five years after diagnosis.
For those with rare conditions, such as Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia (WM), finding reliable information and support can be especially difficult. Similarly, myeloma remains an incurable blood cancer that primarily affects people over 65, though younger individuals can also be diagnosed.
Why Blood Cancer Is Known as the “Hidden Cancer”
Research from Blood Cancer UK reveals that 78% of patients describe blood cancer as a “hidden cancer”. Symptoms can be vague and difficult to detect, leading to delays in diagnosis. Alarmingly, 31% of patients visit their GP three or more times before receiving answers. Many describe the process as an “odyssey”, with different symptoms and timelines making each diagnosis journey unique.
Another challenge is awareness of support. According to Blood Cancer UK, 58% of patients were unaware of available help when they were first diagnosed.
Why Awareness Matters
Since its launch in 2010, Blood Cancer Awareness Month has worked to break the silence around these conditions. Talking about blood cancer not only helps people recognise the symptoms earlier but also ensures patients and families know that support is out there.
Raising awareness is about more than statistics – it’s about giving a voice to the thousands of people affected every year, helping them feel less alone, and driving research forward to improve outcomes for future generations.