Non-existent awareness of leukaemia symptoms 'extremely worrying' as new figures show people in Scotland don’t know bleeding, bruising, fatigue and infections are a sign of the blood cancer

Leading UK leukaemia charities have launched a memorable new campaign to get people “parroting on” about the symptoms for Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September.

People in the Scotland are being urged to take notice of the symptoms of leukaemia, as new research published shows that only one per cent of those surveyed were able to identify all four of the most widely reported symptoms – fatigue, bruising, unusual bleeding and repeated infections.

Leukaemia is a form of blood cancer, and affects people of all ages. 28 people receive a leukaemia diagnosis every day in the UK – that’s over 10,000 every year. Overall survival for leukaemia stands at just over fifty per cent – making it one of the most deadly forms of cancer. People who are concerned about any of these symptoms - fatigue, bruising, unusual bleeding and repeated infections – are urged by the charities to contact their GP and request a blood test.

In the new #SpotLeukaemia campaign video released on August 24, Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK have called on the expertise of ‘Henry’, a talented Macaw parrot, to try to make the symptoms of leukaemia memorable. The advert sees Henry using a range of objects to create a catchy and repetitive ‘Spot Leukaemia rap’ featuring the symptoms of leukaemia.

Early diagnosis could save lives, yet the recent public survey by leukaemia charities Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care, found that over that nearly half of respondents in Scotland could not recognise the four most widely reported symptoms of the disease. Only nine per cent of Scotland recognised that repeated infections – one of the most common symptoms of leukaemia – are a symptom.The two charities are collaborating on an important campaign, #SpotLeukaemia, to raise awareness of the symptoms ahead of Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September. Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer and third deadliest.

Those who are over 55 underestimate their risk, thinking that leukaemia is a childhood disease. Only eleven per cent of over 55s thought that they had the greatest risk of leukaemia, whereas in reality cases rise sharply after the age of 55, and 38 per cent of all new cases occur in the over 75s.

Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK said, “It’s worrying that less than one per cent of Brits are able to identify the most common symptoms of leukaemia, when 28 people are diagnosed each day in the UK. People underestimate their risk by thinking that leukaemia is a childhood disease. In reality, both incidence and mortality rates rise sharply after the age of 55. Raising awareness in this age group is critical in order to treat it early and effectively; and ultimately to improve survival rates overall.”

Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, chief executive of Leukaemia Care said, "We know that our Spot Leukaemia video may ruffle some feathers but in order to raise awareness we need to create something that will fly. It's crucial that if you think you have fatigue, bruising or bleeding or repeated infections that you contact your GP and ask for a blood test. It's as simple as that and we will continue to parrot-on about it."

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