Overview:
September is dedicated each year to raising awareness of blood cancers, a group of cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, including major types such as leukemia and lymphoma. The month aims to raise awareness of these diseases and their signs and symptoms, support people affected by them, and promote access to appropriate information and care.
Objectives:
• Raise awareness of blood cancers and their different types.
• Increase community awareness of signs and symptoms that may require medical evaluation.
• Encourage medical evaluation when persistent or unexplained symptoms occur.
• Support people affected by blood cancers and their families and promote access to appropriate information and services.
Facts:
• Blood cancers include several types, most notably leukemia and lymphoma.
• Blood cancers may affect the blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system, so their symptoms and treatments vary depending on the type.
• Possible symptoms may include persistent fatigue, recurrent infections, easy bleeding or bruising, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or swollen lymph nodes. However, these symptoms are not specific to blood cancers alone and require medical evaluation.
• Research and advances in the diagnosis and treatment of blood cancers continue, with treatment plans varying according to the type and stage of the disease and the patient's characteristics.
Official Date:
Globally: September 1st–30th, 2026.
Locally: Rabi' al-Awwal 19th–Rabi' al-Thani 18th, 1448H.
References:
Blood Cancer UK – Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization –
Haematolymphoid Tumours.