Only 14% of Brits know the warning signs of leukaemia as thousands are diagnosed in A&E every year

Leukaemia charities highlight the urgent need to raise awareness of signs and symptoms to stop the deadly blood cancer devastating lives.

New research has revealed that a mere 14% of UK adults know the signs and symptoms of leukaemia – which leading charities say is contributing to how more than a third of those diagnosed are finding out the life-changing news at A&E.

YouGov data  – released for September’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month – was carried out on behalf of Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK. The poll of 2,000 UK adults found that less than a sixth (14%) of the UK adult population are able to identify all the four main symptoms of this deadly blood cancer - unusual bruising, unusual bleeding, fatigue, and repeated infections.

There are around 10,000 people diagnosed with leukaemia every year, and almost 5,000 deaths. Annually, 37% of those diagnosed with leukaemia receive their life-altering news in A&E – more than any other cancer type1. In addition, people diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are disproportionately affected as over half of them are diagnosed in emergency settings. This type of leukaemia is particularly aggressive and develops quickly, so early diagnosis and treatment are even more imperative.

Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK have joined forces for their annual Spot Leukaemia campaign which aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this type of blood cancer. The charities are urging anyone experiencing any or a combination of the four most common symptoms to request a full blood count from their GP, a simple yet vital test that can lead to early diagnosis and significantly improve survival rates. According to guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), a blood test for leukaemia should be carried out within 48 hours.

Lisa Thompson, 52, from Somerset was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in July 2022 after experiencing symptoms including extreme fatigue, unusual infections and nausea, which she put down to her demanding role as a primary school head teacher. She saw her GP and was booked in for a blood test in three weeks’ time. However, Lisa got increasingly unwell during that time so eventually went to A&E where blood tests confirmed her diagnosis.

Lisa said: “Identifying symptoms of leukaemia is like putting together the pieces of a jigsaw - it’s not easy to pin down. That’s why it’s so important for people who may be experiencing symptoms, like I was, to ask their GP for an urgent full blood test. It is such a simple way of identifying something really serious. The sooner leukaemia is diagnosed the better - it shouldn’t take a desperate trip to A&E to get that.”

Every day, 27 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia, and currently, over 50,000 are living with the disease. Despite common misconceptions, leukaemia is not just a childhood disease as it predominantly affects those over 65.

Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said: “This new data highlights the real and urgent need to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia. That’s why our Spot Leukaemia campaign is urging the public and medical communities to both recognise the warning signs and also the importance of requesting a blood test.

“Finding out you have cancer in A&E no doubt just adds to the distress of an already harrowing situation. The busy surroundings and lack of privacy means there’s no real time to process what is happening. But, critically, being diagnosed with leukaemia at what could be a late stage can also have a big impact on treatment and survival rates which is why speedy diagnosis is absolutely vital.”

Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care are urging the public and healthcare professionals to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of leukaemia and to contact their GP and request a blood test if they have any concerns.

Colin Dyer, CEO of Leukaemia Care, says “The findings call for immediate action. Delayed diagnoses not only devastate lives but also strain the NHS with increased treatment costs. We hear on a daily basis via our support services about the impact this has on patients and their families.

“Knowing the signs and symptoms of leukaemia and not being afraid to ask for a blood test from your GP is really important and something which we will continue to campaign for. Early diagnosis saves lives”

For more information and to find out about the symptoms of leukaemia, visit www.spotleukaemia.org.uk 

Our campaign video can also be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6322MuTO_zA

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK at the following:

Leukaemia Care: communications@leukaemiacare.org.uk or 01905 755977

Leukaemia UK: communications@leukaemiauk.org.uk or 0208 189 6288