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blood cancer in canada: stats, impact and resources
6 minute read
since cancer cells in the blood are more accessible than cancer cells in solid tumors, blood cancer research can more readily measure the effects of new therapies and lead to biologic discoveries that are applied to other types of cancers.
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blood cancer is an alarming term. not just because it’s a form of cancer, one of our most deadly diseases, but because it threatens an essential life force — our blood cells. these blood cells give you energy, help fight infection and keep you from bleeding too much. it’s also a difficult cancer to wrap your head around because symptoms are often vague, with many patients completely asymptomatic. this cancer is in your blood, not in a specific area like a breast or lung, for example.
blood cancer is an umbrella term for cancers that impact the production and function of blood cells, and most start in the bone marrow where blood is produced. they happen when abnormal blood cells grow uncontrollably and disrupt the function of normal blood cells that ward off infection and produce new blood cells. blood cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in canada. there’s work to be done, but advances in treatment are turning some types of this cancer into a chronic disease that can be controlled or managed over a lifetime with the right support.
blood cancer stats in canada
in 2024, an estimated 23,600 canadians will be diagnosed with a blood cancer, according to the canadian cancer society. blood cancers represent about 10 per cent of all cancer diagnoses, so this form of cancer may not be as high on the public radar as breast or prostate cancer, for example, but needs attention. as advocates from leukemia and lymphoma society of canada point out: every 24 minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. blood cancers strike anyone, at any age, at any time.
in the bigger picture, as statistics show, nearly two in five canadians will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime and about one in four will die from cancer.
there’s not a lot known about how to prevent blood cancers, although the 2019 compare study revealed that excess weight and lack of physical activity could contribute to between four to 10 per cent of some blood cancers.
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when you look at statistics, you also want to understand that there are four main groups of blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma (such as hodgkin lymphoma and non-hodgkin lymphoma), myeloma (which is also called multiple myeloma), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (mpns).
a major report, canadian cancer statistics 2019, found that the greatest increases in cancer survival since the early 1990s have been for blood cancers. the report, developed by the canadian cancer society, the public health agency of canada and statistics canada, showed that progress in five-year survival for the most common blood cancers outpaced all other cancers over a 20-year period.
cancer survival overall has improved from 55 to 63 per cent since the 1990s, which is an increase of eight percentage points, while survival for the most common blood cancers has increased by 16 to 19 per cent, with the following significant strides attributed to research that saw improvements in precision medicine:
- the biggest increase in survival was for non-hodgkin lymphoma, moving from 49 to 68 per cent
- multiple myeloma rose from 27 to 44 per cent
- leukemia rose from 43 to 59 per cent.
currently, 155,593 people in canada are living with or in remission from blood cancers.
impact of blood cancer on canadian society
toll on patients and their families
for patients and their families, with people taking time off work, travelling to and from appointments, and feeling isolated from their previous lives, the toll is not only financial but stressful and emotionally draining.
nadine prévost, who leads community services and research with the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada, headed a research project to help the society and oncology practitioners better understand the personal experience of blood cancer patients, how their lives and families are impacted, and how best to support them. the report, published in april 2024, identified a clear message conveyed by people affected by a blood cancer: “treat me as an individual, not as a statistic or diagnosis.”
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the report noted that people wanted frequent, personalized connections and touch-points for support and services to know they are “not alone.” although those surveyed felt supported by their healthcare team, families and friends, they did not always feel fully understood about what they were going through and feeling emotionally. almost a quarter of nurses interviewed said they ranked the provision of emotional support to patients, families and survivors as “the most important service expected from the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada.”
impact on cancer research
another interesting point about the impact of blood cancers is that they have long served as a proving ground for new cancer treatments because of logistics. cancer cells in the blood are more accessible than cancer cells in solid tumors. blood cancer research can more readily measure the effects of new therapies and lead to biologic discoveries that are applied to other types of cancers.
so, for example, in the much talked about area of data collection and determining the capabilities, blood cancer research is a leader in the space. one project the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada is helping to fund is applying ai to analyze digital images of blood cells to detect specific abnormalities.
dr. michael rauh at queen’s university in kingston, ontario is looking at stem cells in bone marrow that develop random mutations in their dna as people age. while some of these mutations don’t have any effects, certain mutations might cause the cells to start dividing more rapidly, possibly leading to cancers like leukemia. other times, cells don’t grow as fast, which is a condition called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (chip). about 10 per cent of the population over the age of 70 has chip, and these patients are at higher risk of blood cancers, along with heart disease, lung disease, and other diseases of inflammation. chip can be diagnosed through a genetic test, but this is rarely done for the general population, so most people go undiagnosed. since most people have had bloodwork done, blood slides are looked at under the microscope presenting an opportunity. rauh’s aim is to apply ai that is capable of looking at images to test the diagnostic capability for chip using blood slides. this would open the door to more screening and detection for blood cancers and other diseases.
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resources and support for blood cancer in canada
the leading associations representing blood cancer are:
connecting with patient organizations can deliver the peer support and shared experience that patients and their families often need to feel less alone and empowered. these organizations also have resources for learning about the different blood cancers to understand the treatment options, drug therapies available, side effects and other challenges that come with a blood cancer diagnosis.
another point raised by the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada 2024 report to better understand patient needs, is that patients and their families want practical information on a range of issues. these include challenges like costs of medical travel, dealing with insurance companies, how to plan for short- and long-term disability and taking a leave from work, how to reintegrate back into the workforce after cancer, and how to plan for the future. other practical topics of interest are how to manage chronic pain, when is it suitable to return to exercising, what are the best nutritious foods to eat regularly and how to stimulate appetite when taste buds are affected by treatment.
blood cancer changes everyone who goes through it, from patients, friends and family members to the healthcare teams that recognize the limitations and challenges of treatment. the more the broader public understands about cancer, the more understanding and supportive they will be of those who are closely impacted.
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