Thursday August 1, 2024

Save the date – Blood Cancer Month – this September

With Blood Cancer Month on the horizon, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP met with one of the 140,000 Australians living with blood cancer to hear about their personal experience with the disease.

Kish Modi, 35, from Sydney, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in October 2023. Since then, Kish has endured two rounds of gruelling chemotherapy, several operations, a stint in ICU, and now lives with a permanent stoma bag.

However, Kish is not alone in his blood cancer battle. In Australia today, a staggering 57 people will be diagnosed with blood cancer, or one person every 27 minutes.

Furthermore, according to the Leukaemia Foundation an estimated 1 in 12 Australians will be diagnosed with blood cancer in their lifetime – the equivalent of 8% of the Australian population.

Reflecting on his meeting with the Prime Minister, Kish said he felt very emotional sharing his personal blood cancer experience, especially as he is still undergoing potentially life-saving treatment.

“This week marks my third round of chemotherapy with the plan to have a bone marrow transplant in September, ironically during Blood Cancer Month,” said Kish.

“Meeting with Mr Albanese was a life-changing moment and a positive opportunity to provide him with greater awareness and understanding of the state of blood cancer in Australia, and what treatment typically entails for this horrific cancer.

“In my experience so far, awareness of blood cancer is key. I don’t believe that many Australians are aware of what blood cancer is or the significant impact it has on those people diagnosed and their loved ones. I know I didn’t before I was diagnosed.”

As a Leukaemia Foundation Ambassador for this year’s Blood Cancer Month, and by sharing his story with the Prime Minister, Kish’s goal is to create greater awareness and conversation around blood cancer until there are zero preventable lives lost to the disease in Australia – a goal shared by the Leukaemia Foundation CEO, Chris Tanti.

“Blood Cancer Month is one of the most significant months of the year for the Leukaemia Foundation and wider blood cancer community, to raise awareness and educate Australians on the impact of blood cancer,” said Mr Tanti.

“The bottom line is, we’re still losing too many lives to blood cancer each year. Today alone, 17 Australians will die from the disease, with blood cancer claiming the lives of more than 6,000 people every year.

“Blood cancer has well and truly cemented itself as one of the nation’s deadliest cancers, however many people are still unaware of just how prevalent it is.”

This year the Leukaemia Foundation will also focus on the theme of equity and diversity with its new campaign, A Fair Go, which aims to address the troubling and stubborn cancer health divide affecting many different communities across Australia.

Mr Tanti said that the campaign will highlight priority population groups that are at an unfair disadvantage simply because of where they call home, the language they speak, or the culture they are a part of.

“Everyone with blood cancer deserves a fair go and sadly we know that it’s an unlevel playing field across Australia, leaving many blood cancer patients facing challenges to receiving a timely diagnosis or the best possible treatment and care.

“Those living regionally, First Nations peoples, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities are among those facing some of the most significant barriers.

“Likewise, older Australians, those from lower socioeconomic groups, adolescents and young adults, people living with a mental illness and those with disabilities, also often face a poorer blood cancer experience.”

The Leukaemia Foundation will release some equally interesting and shocking statistics on 1 September to coincide with the start of Blood Cancer Month and is encouraging Australians, and the media, to get behind the blood cancer community and help raise much needed awareness.

“With one month to go, we’re gearing up for the most significant Blood Cancer Month yet in terms of raising awareness and sharing the stories of the brave Australians, like Kish, impacted by the disease.”

The Leukaemia Foundation encourages all Australians impacted by blood cancer, and those interested in finding out more, to go to bloodcancer.org.au where stories and resources will be shared during Blood Cancer Month, September.