Spotlighting the hidden challenges facing people living with blood cancer

Ruhe Chowdhury, UK Oncology Medical Director | Pfizer

4 min read12 November 2025 Partner content

This article has been developed and funded by Pfizer Ltd.

Although over 40,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with blood cancer each year, awareness of the disease and its symptoms remains low.

Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.¹ Over 40,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year, with around 250,000 people currently living with it in the UK. Despite this, 78 per cent of people living with blood cancer describe it as a hidden cancer.² This is because people diagnosed with the disease are less likely to have their care needs met, especially in comparison to those living with more widely recognised cancers.³

A key challenge is a lack of disease awareness. As it stands, over half of UK adults cannot name a single symptom of blood cancer, with over a quarter saying it is unlikely that they would consult a GP if they had any of the main symptoms associated with the disease.⁴ These figures are concerning to see, especially given that blood cancer is the third biggest cancer killer in the UK.

For those who do seek medical attention, too many visit their GP multiple times before receiving a diagnosis. This can partly be explained by the fact that blood cancers often have non-specific symptoms, which make it difficult for GPs to recognise.⁵ Alongside these delays, people with blood cancer can face different challenges to those with solid tumours, including feeling like their disease is less tangible due to there being fewer physical signs – contributing to the perception that it is a hidden cancer.

It is vital that healthcare services are more effectively supported to improve the experiences and outcomes of blood cancer patients. With a new National Cancer Plan due to be published later this year, now is the time to ensure the distinct unmet needs faced by those living with blood cancer are considered.

The government’s call for evidence for a plan outlines seven areas of focus. A number of these align closely with the core principles we identified in partnership with Blood Cancer UK and the wider blood cancer patient community to spotlight how care can be improved for people living with the disease. Our principles include a focus on:

Blood cancer awareness, particularly among the general public and healthcare professionals.
Shared decision making, empowering patients to have a say in the care that is right for them.
Holistic and personalised care. This is particularly significant given that blood cancer is an umbrella term that encapsulates over 100 different cancers with varying symptoms and different options for treatments.
Equitable access to treatment and support, including addressing the geographical inequality in access to treatment,^6,7 and the inequity in access for people from ethnic minority backgrounds.⁸
Continuity in care and communication, recognising the crucial role clinical nurse specialists provide patients from the point of their diagnosis, particularly for those on watch-and-wait who can struggle with feelings of isolation once treatment ends.^9,10
Research and clinical trials. Enabling greater access to innovations is essential to improving the treatment of blood cancer.

We hope blood cancer is given equal priority to other more common cancers, which we believe will go a long way in improving blood cancer patient outcomes. At Pfizer UK, we remain committed to working in partnership to ensure no patient is left behind. If you are interested in finding out more, click here: www.pfizer.co.uk/news/news-and-featured-articles/improving-standards-of-care-for-people-living-with-blood-cancer

PP-UNP-GBR-13300

November 2025

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