Blood Cancer Awareness Month
Blood cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. In the US alone, a person succumbs to blood cancer every nine minutes. Cancer is often curable if diagnosed at an early stage, but it often becomes a death sentence because of the lack of appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Blood Cancer Awareness Month, observed in September, aims at increasing awareness of blood cancer and helping people fight against it.
What Is Blood Cancer Awareness Month?
Blood Cancer Awareness Month is an awareness event with the primary focus to increase awareness of blood cancer and help people manage the condition better. Many charities, nonprofits, and local leaders participate in this event by raising voices and educating people about blood cancer.
Importance of Blood Cancer Awareness Month
With blood cancer being one of the most common causes of death among US citizens, increasing awareness of blood cancer is essential. Not all blood cancers are deadly, and some have a positive life expectancy if diagnosed early and managed well.
Blood Cancer Awareness Month encourages people to watch out for the signs of cancer and get immediate help if they notice them.
Blood cancer is of the following types:
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
However, certain symptoms are common in all blood and bone marrow cancers. These include:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Fever and chills
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath and abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breach
- Frequent infections
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your doctor and get yourself screened for blood cancer immediately.
How to Celebrate Blood Cancer Awareness Month?
There are several ways to observe and recognize blood cancer awareness month. Here are some great ideas for you.
Get Yourself Checked
Yes, the first thing you should do this month is get yourself checked for blood cancer or any other cancer. Blood cancers exhibit symptoms at a later stage, making their diagnosis difficult. By undergoing screening, you can find cancer in its initial stages and stop it from growing.
Help Someone Living with Cancer
Next, see if someone in your circle suffers from blood cancer and find a way to help them. You can do that by educating them about cancer and how they can take better care of themselves. You can also help them by accompanying them to chemo or radiotherapy sessions.
Work with Charities
The most effective way to celebrate Blood Cancer Awareness Month is to donate to cancer charities or volunteer your time with them. Working with a charity organization is the best way to translate your actions into meaning and create a large-scale impact. Some of the best nonprofits working towards better cancer diagnosis and treatment are:
- 1UPOnCancer
- American Association for Cancer Research
- Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
- CLIC Sargent
Conclusion
Blood cancer claims millions of lives every year, and the diagnosis and treatment outcomes are not good in underdeveloped countries. Blood Cancer Awareness Month aims to educate people on blood cancer and increase awareness of the disease’s symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
