Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September 2021 marks the annual Blood Cancer Awareness Month. This campaign aims to raise awareness and understanding of all types of blood cancers such as Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease.  

Blood cancer is the UK's third biggest cancer killer, with over 40,000 people being diagnosed with the cancer every year. Despite this, there is a lack of awareness on blood cancer in the UK, with over half of adults not knowing any symptoms of blood cancer.  

The main symptoms of blood cancer to look out for are:

• Weight loss that is unexplained
• Bruising or bleeding that is unexplained
• Lumps or swellings
• Shortness of breath (breathlessness)
• Drenching night sweats
• Infections that are persistent, recurrent or severe
• Fever (38°C or above) that is unexplained
• Rash or itchy skin that is unexplained
• Pain in your bones, joints or abdomen (stomach area)
• Tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep (fatigue)
• Paleness (pallor)

To show your support during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, you can take on the 120 fundraising challenge to raise money for vital research or share your blood cancer story on social media using the hashtags #ThisIsBloodCancer and #BCAM2021.