National treasure Stephen Fry, urges public to ‘say blood cancer’ in charity campaign video
76% of people with disease don’t get told they have a type of blood cancer at diagnosis. Neither did Aimee Togher, who was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
During Blood Cancer Awareness month, Blood Cancer UK are rallying people to break the silence surrounding blood cancer by saying its name.
In the video, those with lived experience - alongside actor Stephen Fry - urge people with blood cancer to qualify that their individual condition is a type of blood cancer, to help raise crucial awareness.
76% people aren’t told what they have is blood cancer when they’re diagnosed, they end up finding out on google or not at all. And they’re missing out on being part of a supportive community. That’s why I’m asking conditions to say blood cancer.
- Stephen Fry
People with experience of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, chronic myeloid leukaemia, Hodgkins's lymphoma and MPN are all featured in the film.
Aimee Togher, 23 is one of the faces of the campaign. She was aged just 22 when she found a lump on her neck after a tough work call. On 9th May she was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin-lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
She said:
“Getting a blood cancer diagnosis was a complete shock. Not everyone gets told this. Many people don't know what blood cancer actually is. It isn't just one cancer - it's so many different types. I was lucky that I knew lymphoma was a type of cancer. The 'c word' was never actually mentioned by my doctor. We need to spread awareness of blood cancer, what it is, who's affected by it, so that we can bring people together.
Knowing that others are out there in a similar situation to me has made me feel less alone. I can do this. We can do this. We're in it together.”
An emotional and touching TikTok video of her shaving her hair with her boyfriend has so far had over 8.5m views. She has 5 tumours in 3 places, with one being over 5cm and close to her heart and lungs, which makes treatment riskier. She’s now completed an intensive chemotherapy.
I wasted summers stressing over how big my arms looked in vest tops, if my hair and skin looked greasy and now, I’m living with the side effects of chemotherapy, blood cancer is humbling.
- Aimee
“The road to recovery is far from easy, but with unwavering determination and the support of loved ones, I've taken each step with the hope of better days."
Helen Rowntree, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK said:
"By breaking the silence, raising awareness, we hold the power to reduce the harm blood cancer causes. Let's unite to make a difference in the battle against these conditions.
Few realise that blood cancer is amongst the top five most prevalent cancers in the UK, and even fewer know that leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are all types of blood cancer
- Helen Rowntree