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Key Points
- About 140,000 Australian families are currently facing a blood cancer battle.
- The disease is on track to become the country’s most common and deadly cancer, the Leukaemia Foundation says.
- Blood cancer can’t be prevented or screened for.
Blood cancer has been dubbed Australia’s “silent” killer after a shocking rise in cases prompted calls for more prevention and early detection research.
The disease is on track to become the country’s most common and deadly cancer in a decade, claiming the lives of 16 Australians every day, according to the Leukaemia Foundation.
One in 12 people are set to be diagnosed with blood cancer in their lifetime — almost 10 per cent of the national population.
About 140,000 families are currently facing a blood cancer battle.
“You cannot prevent, cannot screen or reduce your risk of blood cancer,” the foundation’s head of research, Bill Stavreski, told AAP.
“We just don’t know what causes blood cancers and it’s no surprise that blood cancers are the fastest growing cancer and the largest growing in the last 20 years, predicted to be the number one cancer by 2035,” Stavreski said.
“Without these key answers, unfortunately, it will continue to impact Australians of all walks of life and all ages and we urgently need help to save Australian lives.”
The incidence of the disease in Australia has increased by 79 per cent in the past 20 years.
“It’s Australia’s silent and hidden cancer crisis,” a foundation statement said.
But the foundation said only 12 per cent of blood cancer research funding in that time had gone towards prevention and early detection, well below other leading cancers in Australia.
“The overwhelming majority of our funds come from everyday Australians, a very small portion comes from federal or state governments,” Stavreski said.
“We still don’t have the answers on what is the cause, how to prevent, and importantly, how to screen for [blood cancer] and that is the next frontier.”
The foundation’s national research program has funded about 365 blood cancer research grants since 2000.
It has called on Australians to help raise vital funds by taking part in its annual World’s Greatest Shave campaign.
“What we are urging the Australian community is to sign up, whether that’s to shave, cut or colour your hair,” Stavreski said.
“Funds that will be generated throughout that period will go to help all Australians living with blood cancer.”
The World’s Greatest Shave is in its 27th year and aims to raise $12 million.
