Double your donation this Christmas
Every 27 minutes, someone like Dom is diagnosed with blood cancer. The clock is ticking.
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Your gift can make twice the impact for families affected by cancer
For a limited time, every dollar you give will be MATCHED $1 for $1, up to $100,000.
Your donation instantly doubles, creating twice the hope for life-changing cancer research.
$75 = $150
Can pay for microscopy to identify cancer-fighting immune cells in tumours
$125 = $250
Can support access to vital lab facilities
$550 = $1100
Can provide cutting-edge software to analyse cells
Dom celebrating his mum’s 80th birthday.
Dom's blood cancer story
“My family started preparing for my funeral when I told them I had cancer... If it wasn't for cancer research, I wouldn't be here today."
Dom had been unwell for a long time. After months of going to the doctor for debilitating fatigue and bone pain, he finally had an answer: multiple myeloma, an incurable and often aggressive form of blood cancer.
Each day in Australia, six more people like Dom receive this life-altering news, their worlds forever changed as they face an uncertain future and the reality of lifelong treatment.
Like many others, he was given just five years to live – if he were lucky. But after a successful stem cell transplant, clinical trial and countless therapies, he’s still here 10 years later, celebrating another Christmas with his loved ones.
Thanks to generous supporters like you that have empowered advancements in cancer research, myeloma is no longer a death sentence. But patients still endure ongoing treatments that take a heavy toll, and sadly, the disease often cuts lives short, making every moment even more precious.
"I know I have an incurable disease. Sooner or later, my time will come, but I try and live for today as much as I can.”
Your MATCHED donation will bring us closer to breakthroughs in blood cancer and beyond
“I am incredibly grateful for the research funding we receive; it is vital to support our efforts to explore and decode the complexities of myeloma with our ultimate goal to improve outcomes for those living with the disease.”
Dr Melissa Cantley is a blood cancer researcher funded by Cure Cancer. Her research focuses on detecting early signs of cancer progression that helps doctors to act sooner and stop the cancer before it fully develops. She is now working with a team that has initiated a national study aimed at identifying blood-based biomarkers, working with experts across Australia to advance this important research.
Investing in cancer research like hers brings us closer to breakthroughs that give cancer patients more hope, more time, and better lives.
Dr Melissa Cantley, Cure Cancer-funded blood cancer researcher
Our blood cancer researchers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blood cancer?
Blood cancer occurs when normal blood cell production, which happens in the bone marrow, is interrupted by the uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell. When abnormal blood cells build up in the blood, it can affect how the rest of the body functions.
Blood cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis and also the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia in the latest national report. Although incidence for most cancer types have largely improved over the years, blood cancer remains an exception. Incidence of this type of cancer continues to grow, and it is up to 47% in the last 10 years alone.
What are the types of blood cancer?
Blood cancers are categorised according to the type of cells affected. There are three main types:
Leukaemia
Leukaemia starts in the bone marrow where developing blood cells (usually white cells) undergo a malignant change. These cells then crowd the marrow, affecting the body’s ability to produce normal blood cells. There are four kinds of leukaemia: acute lymphoblastic, acute myeloid, chronic lymphocytic, and chronic myeloid. In 2021, an estimated 2,029 deaths in Australia were due to leukaemia. The five-year survival rate has significantly improved in the last twenty years, from 43% in 1988-1992 to 63% in 2013-2017.
Symptoms can include:
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Signs of anaemia
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Chronic infection (such as fevers, sweats, sores)
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Enlarged lymph nodes
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Joint pain
- Spontaneous bruising and increased bleeding
- Painful passing of urine
Lymphoma
Lymphomas affect the lymphatic system, part of the immune system which protects the body against disease and infection. These occur when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) undergo a malignant change and multiply in an uncontrolled way. The lymphoma cells then accumulate to form tumours in the lymph nodes, which are located throughout the body. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which can be distinguished by the specific lymphocytes involved.
Symptoms can include:
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Swelling of lymph nodes
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Fever
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Night sweats
- Sudden weight loss
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
Myeloma
Myeloma develops in plasma cells (a type of white cell) of the bone marrow. It is often called multiple myeloma because marrow is found in multiple bones such as the spine, skull, ribs, pelvis, and shoulder. The five-year survival rate for myeloma is 51%.
Symptoms can include:
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Kidney problems
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Frequent nose bleeding
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Feeling pain in the bones
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Fatigue
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Chronic infections that don’t go away
What are the risks associated with blood cancer?
Exposure to radiation and certain chemicals or solvents is a known risk associated with leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. HIV infection, which can weaken the immune system, Epstein-Barr virus (herpesvirus 4), and Human T-Cell leukaemia virus, can also increase risk.
People assigned male at birth are at a slightly greater risk of lymphoma. Having a family history of Hodgkin lymphoma increases the risk of this disease, and it is also more common in early adulthood (people in their 20s). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in late adulthood (60 above).
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Best wishes for a speedy recovery
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