The Leukaemia Foundation is reminding the nation the number of Australians dying from blood cancer is now DOUBLE those losing their life to melanoma 1, as registrations for the 20th anniversary of World’s Greatest Shave open today.

Every day another 35 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer or disorder and according to new analysis by the Leukaemia Foundation, this number is on the rise.

More than 270,000 Australians have been diagnosed with a blood cancer since World’s Greatest Shave began in 1998. Although survival rates are improving, each year CLOSE TO 13,000 people are newly diagnosed.

The analysis also confirms blood cancer, in specific leukaemia and lymphoma, still remains the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer in children aged 0-14 years in Australia 2.

“In 1998, children diagnosed with leukaemia would have around a 65 per cent chance of survival. Today, improvements in treatment and care mean nearly 90 per cent will survive the disease3,” a Leukaemia Foundation spokesperson said.

Despite these huge improvements in the treatment of childhood leukaemia, blood cancers, including lymphoma, myeloma and leukaemia, are still one of Australia’s leading causes of death. In 2017 one Australian lost their life to a blood cancer every two hours.

The Leukaemia Foundation believed blood cancer diagnosis rates would only continue to rise as Australia’s population ages.

“While more kids are surviving our parents are being diagnosed at a growing rate,” the spokesperson said.

“Diagnoses rates for people over the age of 65 with blood cancers like Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Multiple Myelomas show dramatic increases (3).”

Now more than ever, Australians need to embrace fundraising initiatives like World’s Greatest Shave so organisations like the Leukaemia Foundation can support those affected by a diagnosis. This included the Foundation advocating for better access to medicines as well as funding ground breaking research programs that would help improve treatments and survivability rates.

“We’re asking a record number of Australians to join our 20th anniversary of the World’s Greatest Shave and become part of the solution, which will see more Australians survive and ultimately beat blood cancer,” the spokesperson said.

Register today at www.worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.

Media enquires please contact Monique Cerreto at the Leukaemia Foundation: 0478 300 507 / 02 9902 2225 

 

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1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2017). Leading causes of death 2006 – 2016. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2017). Cancer Compendium: information and trends by cancer type. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-compendium-information-and-trends-by-cancer-type/report-contents/leukaemia-in-australia
3 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012). A picture of Australia’s children. Retrieved from https://aihw.gov.au