Blood cancer impacts thousands of New Zealanders every year – with 8 people diagnosed every day – yet awareness of blood cancer is low. Collectively, blood cancers are the fourth most common cancer in New Zealand, and the third most common cause of cancer death. Despite this, blood cancers are often overlooked or forgotten in public health discussions and policymaking.

Join us in recognising and celebrating the courage of those living with blood cancer, the dedication of their caregivers, and the tireless efforts of the medical community providing care and advancing research towards a cure. By taking part in the ‘Faces of Blood Cancer’ campaign, you can help raise awareness and elevate the profile of blood cancer; ensuring it is recognised as a common cancer and that more can be done to improve patient outcomes.

Unlike solid tumours, blood cancers can be difficult to prevent, screen, or diagnose, and rarely have surgical options for treatment. While these unique features of blood cancers are sometimes acknowledged in cancer initiatives, they are often overlooked in planning and prioritisation of cancer care within our health system.

Stem cell transplants and immunotherapies offer some of the best chances for improving blood cancer outcomes. Policies designed to close the gap in access to cancer treatments for solid tumour cancers should be extended with the same urgency to blood cancer therapies.

By adding your face to the campaign, you’ll be joining our efforts to ensure that the distinct needs of blood cancer patients are not forgotten.

The Blood Cancer Alliance

The Blood Cancer Alliance is comprised of blood cancer patient advocacy groups and consultant haematologists.

Myeloma New Zealand is a charitable trust established in 2016 by the late Dr Ken Romeril, who was a leading New Zealand haematologist. Our purpose is to focus specifically on myeloma and to improve the quality of life and survival of New Zealanders living with it.

Multiplemyeloma.org.nz

CLLANZ is a group of individuals affected by CLL and medical specialists active in the treatment of CLL, who want to empower patients to advocate for and gain access to world-class treatments for CLL. As well as build public knowledge and understanding of the potential of modern CLL therapies to transform and save lives.

Clladvocates.nz

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC) is the national charity dedicated to supporting patients and their families living with blood cancers (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myeloproliferative neoplasms – MPNs) and serious blood conditions.

Leukaemia.org.nz