"Extremely worrying” new research has found that awareness of the symptoms of leukaemia is “non-existent”. While most people have heard of the blood cancer, only 1pc of the population can identify its four most widely reported symptoms, according to a joint poll by the charities Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care.
There is also misunderstanding over who is affected by the disease, researchers found. Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, saying: “Leukaemia affects people of all ages, yet the majority of people assume it’s a childhood disease.
"We found those over 55 are underestimating their risk, with only 11pc thinking their age group and above were most likely to receive a diagnosis. In reality, cases rise sharply after the age of 55 and 38pc of all new cases occur in the over 75s. Raising awareness in all age groups is critical in order to make sure leukaemia is treated early and effectively.”
