September is MPN Blood Cancer Awareness Month

10 Year Anniversary – Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2020

by Lou Ann Donovan

National Blood Cancer Awareness Month was designated in September 2010 by the U.S. Congress.  The purpose of Blood Cancer Awareness Month is to bring attention to all blood cancers, including chronic blood cancers known as Myeloproliferative Neoplasms or MPNs.  Every three minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer.

MPNs are a group of blood cancers that are not widely known.  They include:

Polycythemia Vera (PV)

Myelofibrosis (MF)

Essential Thrombocythemia (ET)

Help us continue to raise awareness of these chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) blood cancers, September 10^th is MPN Awareness Day.

Blood Cancer Patients Can Be Your Own Health Advocate

Be proactive and be your own health advocate by asking questions from your healthcare team, get annual screenings and CBCs, and maintain records of your lab work and appointment discussions. Early detection is key to reduce your risk of other cancers.

Get screened by detecting disease in its early stages when it’s easier to treat.

CBC is a complete blood count, specifically a group of tests that evaluate the cells that circulate in blood to include red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs).  A CBC can evaluate your overall health and detect a variety of diseases and conditions, such as infections, anemia and leukemia.

Know your family history for an inherited predisposition so you can personally take preventive measures.  Talk to your healthcare provider for your personal recommended screenings including genetic testing.

As September brings attention to blood cancers, MPN Cancer Connection is committed to increasing public awareness and understanding of MPNs, myeloproliferative neoplasms.  If you are a fellow patient, feel free to share this article on your social media pages or cut and paste the paragraph below:

SEPTEMBER IS MPN BLOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms are uncommon blood cancers that occur when the body makes too many white or red blood cells, platelets, or scar tissue forms in the bone marrow.

Symptoms may include (here’s a few):

Fatigue

Itching

Headaches

Bone, joint pain

Dizziness

Problems concentrating

Shortness of breath

Night sweats

Chest pain

Weakness

Enlarged spleen

PLEASE SHARE and Raise Awareness of MPN Blood Cancers, thank you.