September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

On that occasion our own Trustee and Oxford Group Coordinator Claudia Richards was chosen to present a section on the day. She said then:

I have clear memories from my adolescent years of adults around me talking about cancer in hushed tones, with the term itself not even being voiced. We have thankfully moved on from that in the last 50 years! During that time, awareness raising campaigns have allowed us to inform ourselves about the visible signs and symptoms of, for instance, meningitis, stroke or heart attack. We are also gradually breaking down barriers to talking about mental health issues. So maybe it’s high time we did the same for invisible diseases, and particularly blood cancers which account for one-third of all cancer deaths.

In the minds of the general public at least, the term “cancer” is predominantly associated with solid tumours, and specifically the four most common forms. As far as blood cancer goes, while most people may have heard of leukaemia, for instance, they are unlikely to be aware of the symptoms, let alone be familiar with terminology such as “chronic”, “acute”, “myeloid” or “lymphatic”. That is, until they – or someone dear to them – receives that diagnosis. And as clinicians are clear about the fact that early diagnosis is key to a positive outcome, raising the profile of blood cancer and its symptoms is key to ensuring that more people seek medical advice at an early stage.

Blood cancer, rare or otherwise, needs to be made visible, and we can all help to make it so. We may not all have the artistic vision of a light installation in Paternoster Square, but we can wear a lapel badge, share information on social media, raise funds for a patient support group or blood cancer charity, talk to our MP about the importance of the APPG on Blood Cancer and ensure our GP receives information material on blood cancer symptoms and diagnosis.

The 2017 Campaign was covered in the media – and many MDS patients attended the launch, and the subsequent exhibition, which lasted a month.

This event was sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Janssen, to raise the need for more awareness of blood cancers – and was covered widely in the press.