The Leukaemia Foundation is the only national charity in Australia dedicated to assisting those with

leukaemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ' ...

lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). In current usage the name usually refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enlar ...

myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, anemi ...

, MDS, MPN, Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia,

aplastic anaemia Aplastic anemia is a cancer in which the body fails to make blood cells in sufficient numbers. Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow by stem cells that reside there. Aplastic anemia causes a deficiency of all blood cell types: red blood c ...

amyloidosis Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which abnormal proteins, known as amyloid fibrils, build up in tissue. There are several non-specific and vague signs and symptoms associated with amyloidosis. These include fatigue, peripheral edema, weight ...

, and related blood-disorders survive and live a better quality of life. Leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are all types of blood cancer and they can develop in anyone, of any age, at any time. Around 41 Australians are diagnosed each and every day. Although improved treatments and care are helping more people survive, a person loses their life to blood cancer every two hours. Blood cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in Australia, claiming more lives than breast cancer or melanoma.

History

The Leukaemia Foundation was established in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia, in 1975, with the help of hematologist Dr Trevor Olsen and the Holland Park Lions Club. In 1993, the Leukaemia Foundation of Western Australia was formed, followed by the Leukaemia Foundation of New South Wales and South Australian in 1998, then Victoria and Tasmania in 1999. In 2016, the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia and Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland unified to become one national organization. The Leukaemia Foundation now has offices across Australia.

Community commitments

It supports patients and family members by providing free counseling, educational services and accommodation for families who need to relocate while patients receive care. The Leukaemia Foundation invests millions of dollars per year in

blood cancer Tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (American English) or tumours of the haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (British English) are tumors that affect the blood, bone marrow, lymph, and lymphatic system. Because these tissues are all ...

research aimed at improving treatments and finding a cure. It also supports thousands of Australians every year by providing free services including information, emotional support and advocacy, educational programs to help patients afflicted with blood diseases, safe transport to and from hospital treatment and access to fully furnished, 'home away from home' accommodation for regional families required to relocate to the city for as long as necessary. One of the Leukaemia Foundation's biggest fundraising events is "World's Greatest Shave", in which participants have their heads shaved in support of leukemia patients.

References

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External links

Leukaemia Foundation
Cancer organisations based in Australia