Every year, more than 7,300 South Africans are diagnosed with blood cancer. That is more than one person every hour. Over 21,000 are battling it right now, and nearly 5,000 people die from it annually. World Blood Cancer Day, observed annually on 28 May, is trying to change that.
This year, DKMS Africa's Head of Community Engagement and Communication, Palesa Mokemele, Success breaks down what every South African should know.
Myth: Blood Cancer Is Just Another Form of Cancer - It's not. Most cancers form solid tumours that can be surgically removed. Blood cancer starts in the blood, bone marrow or lymphatic system, corrupting the cells your body needs to fight infection and carry oxygen. With nothing to cut out, treatment typically involves chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or, for many patients, a stem cell transplant from a matched donor, which is often the only real chance of a cure. The three main types, leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, each behave differently. All are serious.
Myth: You'd know if something was seriously wrong - Blood cancer has no lump to find. Its warning signs - persistent fatigue, unexplained bruising, recurrent infections, night sweats, and swollen lymph nodes - are easily dismissed as stress or being run down. Patients often describe months of feeling "off" before diagnosis, and that delay can mean the difference between a good outcome and a very poor one. If symptoms persist for weeks, see your doctor. A simple blood test can be enough to identify a problem early, and blood cancer is most treatable when caught early.
