Blood Cancer Awareness Month: Advocacy, Education, and Empowering Communities

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, an observance dedicated to raising awareness about blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma (MM), lymphoma, and leukemia. This month is focused on spreading information about signs and symptoms and encouraging early diagnosis, as well as garnering support for critical research and affected patients and their families.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month graphic | Image Credit: © StudioHaxe - stock.adobe.com

“With over 100 types of blood cancer, it is critical that patients, families and health care professionals have a trusted community to turn to for information and support,” Gwen Nichols, chief of Blood Cancer United®, formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, told Pharmacy Times®. “Blood Cancer Awareness Month provides a special opportunity for organizations like Blood Cancer United to amplify our mission and free resources, reach more of those who need us, and help all blood cancer patients and their families feel empowered and supported.”

What is blood cancer?

Blood cancer is how it sounds: a malignancy rooted in the blood or bone marrow, where many types of blood cells are created. According to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, over 1.5 million Americans are either living with or in remission from blood cancer. This is inclusive of the various types, some of which are more well known than others. MM, leukemia, and lymphoma are considered the “main” types, but others such as myelofibrosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia, and many more affect thousands across the US and globe. Each year, these cancers account for 10% of all new cancer diagnoses.^1,2

What are the signs?

Diagnosis is key to ensure optimal outcomes; however, it often takes time due to the obscurity of symptoms until the cancer is in more advanced stages. Many of the symptoms associated with hematologic malignancies can be present for other non-malignant diseases. Symptoms can vary across blood cancer types, but those such as weight loss, fatigue, bone or joint pain, or recurrent infections are commonly shared symptoms. Thereby, advocacy and continued medical investigation are crucial to identifying the underlying malignancy and commencing treatment as promptly as possible.¹

There are various risk factors that lead to the increased likelihood of developing a blood cancer. Blood cancers are more common as people age and are primarily diagnosed in men. Family history can play a role, as studies indicate hereditary genetic factors influencing cancer risk, such as the premalignant condition monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance—or MGUS.¹

Some hematologic malignancies are more common in specific races or ethnicities. For example, CLL is more prevalent in North America and Europe as opposed to Asia. Additionally, MM is twice as common in African Americans compared with white Americans.¹

Other factors can include radiation or chemical exposure. For instance, insecticide use is linked to increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and NHL subtypes. The highest rates of lymphoma are typically seen in Midwestern—and Northeastern—states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, and Kentucky. In these regions, particularly rural farmlands where there is increased exposure to pesticides and pesticide runoff in water, lymphoma cases and diagnoses cluster.^1,3

What treatments are available?

Survival outcomes for patients with blood cancers have changed dramatically over the past few decades. Prior to the revolutionary development of novel immunotherapies, which limit the off-target toxicities associated with other types of therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy. Now, patients have access to antibody drug conjugates, bispecifics, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, as well as others, which selectively target malignant cells and tumors. Combination therapies are the standard of care approaches for treatment of patients in first-line and later-line settings.

How can pharmacists support patients with blood cancers?

Pharmacists play a vital role in supporting patients throughout their treatment journey. From counseling on complex medication regimens and monitoring for adverse effects to assisting with medication access and adherence, pharmacists serve as an essential resource for both patients and providers. They can also help identify potential drug–drug interactions, provide education on supportive care needs such as infection prevention, and connect patients with financial or community resources.

“I encourage all pharmacists to take advantage of a range of free resources for professionals and for the patients that they serve, available through Blood Cancer United. Pharmacists are such an important source of trusted information, and by making their community aware of our credible free resources, they can be so impactful to patient education,” Nichols explained. “Again, there are more than 100 types of blood cancer with many different treatments. Pharmacists can be a critical link to help patients understand their disease.”

By remaining actively engaged as part of the multidisciplinary care team, pharmacists help ensure that patients with blood cancers receive safe, effective, and comprehensive care that supports both their treatment outcomes and quality of life.

REFERENCES

1. Blood cancer. National Foundation for Cancer Research. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://www.nfcr.org/cancer-types/cancer-types-blood-cancer/#1713522214591-bcc02ef3-71b9

2. Tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Wikipedia. Updated August 19, 2025. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumors_of_the_hematopoietic_and_lymphoid_tissues?utm_source=chatgpt.com

3. Kachuri L, Freeman L, Spinello J, et al. Insecticide use and risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes: A subset meta‐analysis of the North American Pooled Project. Int J Cancer. July 31, 2020. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33164