Blood Cancer Awareness Month: How to Raise Awareness and Support Patients

Every September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the diseases that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system — including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Designated by the U.S. Congress in 2010, this month is an opportunity for patients, families, caregivers, and communities to come together, share knowledge, and take action. Whether you have been personally touched by a blood cancer diagnosis or simply want to help, there are meaningful ways to make a difference.

Blood Cancer by the Numbers

Blood cancers are more common than many people realize. Understanding the scope of these diseases is the first step toward raising awareness:

An estimated 192,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a blood cancer each year — that is roughly one new diagnosis every three minutes.
Nearly 1.7 million Americans are currently living with or in remission from a blood cancer.
Blood cancers account for approximately 10 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. each year.
There are more than 100 different types of blood cancer, each with distinct characteristics, treatment approaches, and outcomes.
Leukemia alone is expected to account for nearly 68,000 new cases in 2026, according to American Cancer Society estimates.

Behind every statistic is a person — someone managing the weight of diagnosis, navigating treatment decisions, and facing practical challenges that can feel just as overwhelming as the disease itself.

Understanding the Three Major Types of Blood Cancer

Blood cancers develop when abnormal blood cells begin growing out of control, disrupting the function of normal blood cells. The three broad categories include:

Leukemia — Cancer that starts in the blood and bone marrow. It occurs when the body produces large numbers of abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy cells. Types include acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Lymphoma — Cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune defense. The two main categories are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with non-Hodgkin being far more common.
Myeloma — Cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies that fight infection. When these cells become cancerous, they can weaken bones and compromise the immune system.

Each of these cancers has its own subtypes, staging systems, and treatment pathways. If you or someone you love has received a blood cancer diagnosis, understanding the specific type is an important part of the journey. Our guide to blood cancer types and treatment offers a more detailed overview.

Why Awareness Matters

Awareness is not just about knowing that blood cancer exists — it is about understanding what patients and families actually go through. A blood cancer diagnosis often means months or even years of treatment, frequent hospital visits, disrupted work and routines, and significant financial strain. Many patients face practical barriers that can interfere with their ability to stay connected to care: a utility bill that cannot wait, transportation costs to reach a treatment center hours away, or the simple need for food and stable housing during a grueling treatment cycle.

When more people understand these realities, communities respond. Awareness drives research funding, inspires volunteerism, and helps patients feel less isolated during one of the most challenging experiences of their lives.

How to Raise Awareness in Your Community

You do not need a medical degree or a large platform to make an impact during Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Here are practical steps anyone can take:

Learn and share. Educate yourself about blood cancer and share what you learn with your family, friends, and social networks. Even a single conversation or social media post can reach someone who needs it.
Wear the ribbon. The orange ribbon represents leukemia awareness, while blood cancer awareness broadly is represented by red. Wearing a ribbon or pin during September signals solidarity and can spark conversations.
Support a patient directly. If you know someone going through treatment, ask what they need. A meal, a ride to an appointment, help with errands, or simply checking in regularly can make a tremendous difference.
Organize or join an event. Community walks, fundraising drives, blood donation events, and educational panels all help raise awareness. Check with local hospitals and cancer organizations for events in your area.
Advocate for research funding. Contact your elected representatives and encourage continued investment in blood cancer research. Advances in treatments like immunotherapy and CAR-T cell therapy have transformed outcomes for many patients, but there is still work to do.
Donate to organizations that support patients. Financial contributions help fund both research and the direct support services that help patients stay connected to care during treatment.

The Barriers Beyond the Diagnosis

One of the most overlooked aspects of a blood cancer diagnosis is the cascade of non-medical challenges that follow. Treatment schedules can make it impossible to work. Hospital stays lead to missed rent payments. Families may need to travel long distances and arrange lodging near a treatment center. Utility bills do not pause because someone is in the hospital.

These are the barriers that can cause patients to miss appointments, delay treatment, or face impossible choices between paying a bill and getting to their next infusion. Awareness means understanding that cancer care is not just about medicine — it is about the full picture of a patient's life.

The Live Like Brent Foundation Comfort Fund helps blood cancer patients overcome non-medical barriers to treatment by paying approved expenses — like utilities, rent, transportation, lodging, and food support — directly to the company or organization providing the service on behalf of the patient.

This September and Beyond

Blood Cancer Awareness Month is an important reminder, but the need does not end when September does. Patients continue treatment through every season. Families continue navigating the practical and emotional weight of the journey year-round. The most powerful thing awareness can do is translate into sustained action — ongoing support, continued learning, and a lasting commitment to making sure no patient faces these challenges alone.

Whether you choose to make a donation, share a patient's story, learn about the disease, or simply check in on someone who is going through it, your actions matter. Blood cancer touches hundreds of thousands of lives every year. This September, let your awareness become someone's lifeline.

If you or someone you love is facing a blood cancer diagnosis, you are not alone. Lean on your support network, talk to your care team, and know that organizations like LLBF are here to help remove the barriers that stand between patients and the care they need.