Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2024

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and since 2010 continues to put a spotlight on the significance of blood cancers and provide an effective platform to raise everyone's understanding of this life-altering condition.

over a million people every year around the world will experience the diagnosis of a blood cancer

Blood cancers are a complicated group of cancers which can affect anyone, at any age, and at any time throughout their lives. Awareness of the different blood cancers (three main types are Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma) and their different signs and symptoms helps to improve early diagnosis and ultimately treatment options.

Leukaemia – affects the white blood cells and blood-forming tissues of the body, including bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Some forms are more common in children and other types occur mainly in adults.

Lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system. This is the body’s germ-fighting network, comprising of the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect any of these as well as other organs throughout the body. The two main types are Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Data from 2022 found non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common hematologic malignancy and the 11th leading cause of cancer death.

Myeloma – develops in the plasma cell, which is a type of white blood cell. Plasma cells are important to help fight infections as they make antibodies which identify and attack germs. Multiple myeloma are cancerous plasma cells that gather in the bone marrow and push out healthy blood cells. The cancer cells produce abnormal proteins which may cause complications.

Recent research from Monash University in Melbourne have developed a drug therapy which produces a double hit to different types of blood cancers. The study focused on leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma with promising results. Read more about the project HERE.

Other blood cancers

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is the most prevalent subtype of leukaemia in Western countries. It affects the bone marrow and white blood cells.

Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer which disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells.

Global Burden of Disease study | 1990-2019

Data from a 2020 study

Estimated blood cancer cases per year – 1.24million
Global mortality – 720,000 people die from blood cancer annually

Data from GLOBOCAN (Global Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence) – 2022 new cases

Leukaemia – 486,777
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – 553,000
Hodgkin’s lymphoma – 82,409
Multiple myeloma – 187,774

Data – GLOBOCAN 2022

Australians and blood cancer

More than 19,400 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer such as Leukaemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma each year.
The incidence of blood cancer is continuing to grow with a 47% rise in the last decade.
Approximately 135,000 Australians are currently living a blood cancer or blood disorder.
Australian men have the highest incidence rates of leukaemia worldwide (GLOBOCAN 2022 study).
By 2035, it is expected the number will rise to 275,000; 35,000 per year.

PBI’s clinical trials unit recognise the importance of new technologies and treatments to address blood cancers. Currently they are involved in clinical trials for various types of blood cancers

Multiple myeloma
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia / small lymphocytic lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Myelofibrosis

To read further information about these and our other clinical trials, please visit our website.

Due to the ongoing accomplishments of clinical trials and research, since the mid-1970s, survival rates have increased by 25%.

References

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