Friday March 1, 2024

• 4 in 5 Australians not confident in recognising main symptoms of blood cancer, including myeloma.
• Myeloma Awareness Month in March provides opportunity to educate Australians about signs and symptoms to enable earlier diagnosis.
• Leukaemia Foundation continues to stand with myeloma patients and is encouraging Australians to sign up to World’s Greatest Shave to help.

With myeloma incidence rates set to more than double by 2035, the Leukaemia Foundation is urgently calling for greater awareness and equitable access to treatment across the country, so myeloma patients have the best chance of survival, no matter where they live.

As Myeloma Awareness Month launches today, Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti said while survival rates for some blood cancers are improving, those diagnosed with myeloma only have a 50/50 chance of survival.

“As many as 4 in 5 Australians are not confident in recognising the main symptoms of a blood cancer, like myeloma, leaving them at risk of a life-threatening delayed diagnosis,” said Mr Tanti.

“With no way to prevent or screen for myeloma and no cure, it’s crucially important that Australians are able to identify myeloma symptoms to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment.

“With only a 50/50 survival rate, being aware of the symptoms could mean the difference between life and death.”

Sadly, 1,180 Australians lose their life to myeloma each year, and this figure is projected to more than double by 2035.

According to the Leukaemia Foundation, Myeloma Awareness Month is the perfect time to raise awareness of this disease, educate people on the signs and symptoms, and encourage people to see their doctor if they’re concerned.

“Too often we are hearing from patients who had no idea that myeloma was a blood cancer, or due to lack of awareness of the symptoms, experienced a delay in diagnosis, further impacting their quality of life.”

Myeloma is a complex blood cancer affecting the body’s plasma cells, which produce antibodies. Myeloma develops when plasma cells undergo a cancerous change and multiply at an increasing rate, taking over the bone marrow.

Although myeloma is more common in older adults, sadly it can also impact adults as young as 30 years old.

Mr Tanti said it was important for Australians to understand what symptoms to look out for and contact their doctor if these symptoms didn’t improve to enable an earlier diagnosis.

“While myeloma symptoms include those associated with other blood cancers, patients also experience severe symptoms including weaker and thinner bones which are more prone to breaking as a result of this debilitating blood cancer,” Mr Tanti said.

Other common symptoms include bone pain, persistent tiredness, dizziness, anaemia, frequent or repeated infections, increased or unexplained bleeding or bruising or kidney damage and a high level of calcium in the blood.

The Leukaemia Foundation continues to stand beside Australians living with myeloma to be their voice, provide them with support and information, and fight to get them access to the best treatment options, wherever they live.

“There is an urgent need for increased support, additional resources, and ultimately more funds needed to assist the growing number of Australians impacted by myeloma.”

“If Australians are looking for a way to support people living with myeloma in this country today, we encourage them to sign up to World’s Greatest Shave in March, and either shave, cut, or colour their hair.”

Funds raised through World’s Greatest Shave go towards providing vital support for Australians diagnosed with myeloma and other blood cancers, as well as funding life-changing blood cancer research.

Since 2000, the Leukaemia Foundation has funded over 360 blood cancer research grants, representing over $86.5 million in blood cancer research funding in today’s current dollar value.

The funding is helping to make significant strides into finding better and more targeted treatment options for Australians living with myeloma, with the hope of one day finding a cure.

To help in the fight against myeloma and other blood cancers, please register to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave in March at worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.