Many individuals are unaware of the important thing indicators of leukaemia regardless of it being one in all deadliest types of most cancers, a state of affairs main most cancers charities say is “extraordinarily worrying”.
A survey of 2134 adults co-commissioned by Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care revealed consciousness of the warning indicators was low and that, in London particularly, none of these surveyed had been capable of determine all 4 of most generally reported signs: bleeding, bruising, fatigue and infections.
Leukaemia is a type of blood most cancers which kills 5,000 folks a 12 months within the UK, and is commonly identified too late. General survival charges for leukaemia stand at simply over 50% however the earlier the prognosis, the higher the end result.
Solely 10% of survey respondents in London knew that repeated infections had been probably the most widespread signs. There was additionally low consciousness of surprising bruising (26%) and weird bleeding (10%) as signs, whereas 41% of respondents didn’t know to look out for fatigue – the most definitely symptom to be recognized by these later identified with leukaemia.
Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care have now teamed up on a brand new marketing campaign, #SpotLeukaemia, to boost consciousness of those signs forward of Blood Most cancers Consciousness Month in September.
Of their joint marketing campaign movie, ‘Henry’, a gifted Macaw parrot, makes use of a variety of objects to create a catchy and repetitive rap that includes the signs. The advert focuses on the highest 4 signs of leukaemia, however different signs embody fever or night time sweats, bone or joint ache and swollen lymph nodes.
Fiona Hazell, chief government of Leukaemia UK mentioned: “It’s extraordinarily worrying that lower than 1% of Brits are capable of determine the commonest signs of leukaemia, when 28 individuals are identified every day within the UK.”
She added: ″Individuals underestimate their threat by pondering that leukaemia is a childhood illness. In actuality, each incidence and mortality charges rise sharply after the age of 55. Elevating consciousness on this age group is vital so as to deal with it early and successfully; and finally to enhance survival charges total.”
Whereas leukaemia is the commonest sort of childhood most cancers, incidence charges rise sharply after the age of 55 and 38% of all new diagnoses happen in these over 75.
Nevertheless, the survey discovered that solely 2% of Brits assume that leukaemia is commonest in these over 75. with 43% of respondents pondering that leukaemia is commonest within the below 24s.
The Spot Leukaemia marketing campaign significantly needs to extend consciousness amongst those that are over 65, as this age group is the most definitely to be identified with leukaemia.
“With over 10,000 folks being identified yearly with a leukaemia, this reveals simply how essential it’s to proceed to boost consciousness of the indicators and signs and the way a lot work must be completed,” mentioned Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, chief government of Leukaemia Care.
People who find themselves involved about any of those signs – fatigue, bruising, uncommon bleeding and repeated infections – are being strongly urged by the charities to contact their GP and request a blood take a look at.
Extra data is obtainable at www.spotleukaemia.org.uk.
