Since few years, ALAN together with CML Advocates Network, CLL Advocates Network and Leukaemia Care focus on continuing raising awareness about (acute) leukemia and symptoms awareness with a focus on the importance of early diagnosis.

We propose to continue the #BeLeukemiaAware campaign all year, but with a particular focus on Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September and World Leukemia Day on 4th September.

Objective

In addition to materials and activities created in previous years, we will  continue creating tailored activity around existing external awareness days (focusing on the relevance to acute leukemia), where we will be supportive of wider campaigns.

 

 

 

 

Blood Cancer Awareness Month 

Blood Cancer Awareness Month was established to increase public understanding of blood cancers and to raise awareness about the need for improved treatments, early diagnosis, and increased funding for research.

 

World Leukemia Day 

World Leukemia Day on 4th September is a yearly global campaign started by Leukaemia Care in collaboration with patient groups across the globe.

It’s the one day of the year people from all around the world can come together to help raise awareness of leukemia. By raising awareness of leukaemia and educating the world on the signs and symptoms of the condition, we can work together to help leukaemia patients get diagnosed and provide better outcomes for them. You can make a difference no matter who you are and where you live.

Leukaemia is the 13th most common cancer in the world. Over 437,000 people are diagnosed with leukaemia each year, that’s over 1000 people every day. However, the non-specific signs and symptoms make it difficult to spot. There are over 300,000 deaths caused by leukaemia worldwide.

Our campaign is vital because survival rates for leukaemia are significantly lower than most common cancers and these rates are worsened by the high rates of emergency diagnosis.

Why is it important to raise awareness ? Listen to Nick York, Chair of the CLL Advocates Network and to Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, Chair of ALAN

Jan Geissler, co-founder of CML Advocates Network and ALAN is sharing his thoughts.

Rian Harvey, a 2-times leukemia survivor also shares his views

Listen to Gillian Adams, caregiver and patient advocate.

It is also interesting to hear from a physician – Here is what Prof. Gianantonio Rosti thinks:

Campaign

• By raising awareness of leukemia and educating the world on the signs and symptoms of this condition, we can work together to help leukemia patients get diagnosed and provide better outcomes for them. You can make a difference no matter who you are and where you live.
• Encourage people to get seen by a healthcare professional – This will help reduce the numbers of preventable leukemia deaths across the world and provide patients with greater outcomes.
• Healthcare professionals have to be trained to better manage and address potential patients and new diagnosed patients
• #BeLeukemiaAware

 

Materials and activities

Websites:

Blood Cancer Awareness Month: https://bloodcanceraware.org/

World Leukemia Day: https://www.worldleukemiaday.org/

Materials for download and use:

https://acuteleuk.org/downloads/