WLAD 2009

WLAD Wrap Up.

World Lymphoma Awareness Day is held globally every year on 15 September. The international Lymphoma Coalition, of which the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation is a member, aims to increase awareness about this little known cancer.

Lymphoma is increasing in incidence in New Zealand; this is in line with increases seen globally. Despite this, few New Zealanders have heard of lymphoma although it is the sixth most common cancer in the country affecting about 800 people every year.

This year, we held several patient and family events around the country focusing on Survivorship. Our events in Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North and Wellington have been well attended and participant feedback has been very positive.

For more information, or for copies of the presentations given, and useful links, click here.

Patient events  

WLAD 2009 focused on survivorship
The concept of survivorship and the term cancer survivors has progressively changed over the years. Today survivorship is defined as beginning at diagnosis, the moment the battle with cancer begins and continues through treatment and beyond. A cancer survivor is seen as anyone living with cancer, including family and whanau members, friends and or caregivers. Research has shown cancer survivors face numerous physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial issues throughout their experience of cancer.

New Zealand data shows lymphoma is still on the rise

With lymphoma more prevalent in people 50 years and over, that increase can partly be blamed on an ageing population, but it does not fully account for the rise.

The growing figures are worrying given New Zealanders' apparent lack of awareness about the disease.
• In New Zealand lymphoma is a cancer that continues to rise in incidence
• The incidence of lymphoma is 4 times higher than cervical cancer
• More people die from lymphoma than of melanoma
• Lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in New Zealand
• 89% of New Zealanders surveyed last month could not correctly identify what lymphoma was
• Lymphoma is the most commonly occurring blood cancer and the third most common childhood cancer

The need for awareness

The symptoms of lymphoma are often mistaken for less serious illnesses such as flu, fatigue or glandular fever. But it is essential the disease is recognised early because, if treated appropriately, some types of lymphoma can be cured. Initial diagnosis of lymphoma can be difficult – the LBF can help patients and their families affected by lymphoma receive the information and support they need.

Awareness research

In August 2008, 501 telephone interviews were conducted amongst a representative sample of New Zealanders across 15 different regions. The survey was conducted to ensure a spread of urban, provincial and rural respondents. Based on this survey, 89% of New Zealanders surveyed could not correctly identify lymphoma:
• 40% of respondents thought the symptoms where flu
• 31% of respondents thought the symptoms where glandular fever
• 2% of respondents thought the symptoms where lymphoma