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Leukaemia Foundation 🩸 We stand with Australia to help everyone impacted by any blood cancer - with care 💙 Your blood is a remarkable thing. We’re funding research to find a cure.

We stand with Australia to help cure and conquer every blood cancer – with care. It keeps you alive by giving your body what it needs, taking away what it doesn’t and fighting off infection. But more than 110,000 people in Australia are living with the devastating impact of blood cancer and it’s one of the biggest causes of cancer death. It’s a cancer of your blood and immune systems, preventing them from doing what they need to keep you alive and healthy. Blood cancer develops in the places of your body where blood is made, but its exact cause is unknown. A range of things affect someone’s chance of surviving blood cancer and, it can be incurable. There are many different types of blood cancer and together they are among the most prevalent and deadly cancers in Australia today. The most common types of blood cancer are called lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma. When you support us, you support the blood cancer community. We’re driving equitable access to better diagnostics and treatments and, we’re helping people already impacted by blood cancer through emotional support, transport services and providing a home-away-from-home when families have to relocate to access life-saving treatment. Learn more: www.leukaemia.org.au

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💔 "Nothing is truly a home away from home.”For Siobhan, a blood cancer diagnosis as a teenager meant travelling from her...
23/10/2026

💔 "Nothing is truly a home away from home.”

For Siobhan, a blood cancer diagnosis as a teenager meant travelling from her rural home in Northwest NSW to Brisbane regularly for treatment.

🗣️ “Having to constantly travel back and forth made Brisbane my home away from home. It meant adventuring into the city, finding good coffee and building friendships that'd last a lifetime.

"Travelling in general can be costly. Living rurally, getting the care you need means staying in accommodation, and when money becomes scarce, it becomes a stress for the individual and their support network."

From her roots in rural NSW, Siobhan lived for horse riding, fishing and family. Her cancer journey meant that she was often too sick to return home to her loved ones.

“I'd beg my doctors to let me head home. But most of the time I’d be denied due to being immunocompromised."

🏡 Siobhan stayed at our ESA Blood Cancer Centre in Brisbane during her treatment, which she credits with saving her family from financial difficulties.

"Without places like ESA, I'm certain that my family and I would have been in a serious financial crisis, along with the cost of day-to-day life and surrounding medical costs."

🩸 David was working 60-hour weeks at the local power station in Gladstone when he went for a routine blood test."The nex...
22/10/2026

🩸 David was working 60-hour weeks at the local power station in Gladstone when he went for a routine blood test.

"The next day, I got a phone call from the doctor saying I needed another blood test.

"The next morning, the doctor phoned me again, saying, 'You need to go to the local emergency department. You've got acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)."

🎙️ In the latest episode of our Talking Blood Cancer podcast, David shares how his shock AML diagnosis saw him spend four months in our accommodation in Brisbane, over 550kms from his home in Central Queensland.

"I was on chemo 24 hours a day for eight days, and within just a few hours after beginning treatment, I ended up with a lower intestine infection.

"After stopping my pain medication, there was a day when I saw an entity whenever I closed my eyes. I was wide awake, exhausted, and reluctant to close them because I didn’t like what I saw.

"But within 12 hours, I shifted this to help me on my journey, and I could see myself as a blood cell running through my body, repairing it. It helped me change that moment from chaotic to controlled."

🎵 After undergoing a successful stem cell transplant, where his eldest brother was his donor, David turned to sound healing to provide calm during his recovery in hospital.

"I used things like Solfeggio frequencies, where you take the sounds in your body and create that atmosphere in the hospital room.

"It just changed the environment that you’re actually healing in. It became a place of calmness for the nurses and even the doctors when they’d come through."

David now uses his experience to help coach people with cancer to reframe their mindset, something he says is healing his own journey.

"If you push things under the carpet, eventually that becomes a big lump that you can’t not fall over. If even one person listening feels less alone because of this, then sharing it's worth it."

🎧 Listen to this episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on our website.

🌟 Three of Australia’s brightest blood cancer researchers have been awarded PhD Scholarships by the Leukaemia Foundation...
21/10/2026

🌟 Three of Australia’s brightest blood cancer researchers have been awarded PhD Scholarships by the Leukaemia Foundation and HSANZ.

The 2026 recipients - Ashley Whitechurch, Dr George Mason and Dr Samuel Grigg - were announced at the annual Blood conference.

Their respective research projects aim to improve the lives and treatment outcomes of Australians living with blood cancer.

Head of Research, Bill Stavreski, said these Scholarships are a vital component of our National Research Program, with the new scholars joining a prestigious list of previous recipients spanning nine years.

🗣️“Each recipient will receive $150,000 to undertake some of this country’s most innovative and cutting-edge blood cancer research projects as a result of the funding we’re jointly able to provide with HSANZ.

“We're thrilled to partner with HSANZ on these PhD scholarships, which continue to mark one of our most important research announcements each year."

Funding local blood cancer research is crucial to reducing the devastating burden of blood cancer in Australia, with the incidence of the disease set to double in the next ten years.

🎓 Meet the 2026 Leukaemia Foundation HSANZ Scholarship recipients:

👩‍⚕️ Ashley Whitechurch is a Nurse Practitioner specialising in lymphoma and chronic leukaemia at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, whose research aims to improve the safety and accessibility of new lymphoma treatments through an innovative nurse-led model of care.

🧬 Dr George Mason is a clinical and laboratory haematologist whose research aims to improve how childhood leukaemia is monitored and treated through advanced genetic testing, including liquid biopsies and whole-genome sequencing.

🎯 Dr Samuel Grigg is a haematology trainee at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Hospital Melbourne whose research will investigate an innovative new approach to treating acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) using programmable RNA technology designed to identify and destroy cancer cells.

For more information about each PhD Scholarship recipient’s research, visit 👇
https://www.leukaemia.org.au/research-and-advocacy/research-hub/phd-scholarships-program/

La Trobe University Children's Cancer Institute Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

💔 “I remember sitting on the couch one day, very unwell, watching him play with his Lego, and thinking he looked sad..."...
19/10/2026

💔 “I remember sitting on the couch one day, very unwell, watching him play with his Lego, and thinking he looked sad...

"I knew I needed to address it, but I didn't know how, and I was too exhausted.”

Katie was diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia, a rare, slow-growing blood cancer, in 2023 🩸

🗣️ “There was a long, hazy lead-in period of just not feeling right, and abnormal blood tests. I knew it'd develop into cancer, but there was a lot of uncertainty about the type it'd become.

“Observing the slow decline of the self is distressing. Being on 'watch and wait' and having a long-lens view is emotionally difficult.”

Katie then began six months of bendamustine and rituximab treatment, with serious side effects leaving her unable to work.

“I thought I'd tolerate treatment well, but the first cycle shocked me. I was admitted to hospital during the first three cycles due to infections, rashes and severe infusion reactions.

“Showing up to each cycle knowing I'd have a reaction was really hard. I was too unwell and weak to even think about working.”

👩‍👦 Raising her seven-year-old son throughout treatment added another challenge, with Katie often too exhausted to parent the way she wanted to.

But treatment has also given her a new lease on life.

“I'm slowly returning to normal. I've learned to accept where I'm at. I don't sleep well, and I still have some anxiety and fear about relapse.

“But compared to before treatment, life is amazing. I have a wonderful new job, I can ride my bike again, and I have energy to be creative.”

17/10/2026

🏃 Woy Woy to Canberra, on foot. That’s 400km in four days, then 20 laps of Mt Ainslie for his Vertical 5km Challenge!

Not hard enough, apparently.

You can support an inspiring challenger like Grant by getting involved in Bloody Mission.

The challenge isn't how far you run.
🪜 It's about how high you climb.

5,000 metres of vertical gain over five days in October.
Head to bloodymission.leukaemia.org.au 📲

“You often live in a world of silence because it’s just easier to say you’re okay..."🩸 In 1973, Karen was diagnosed with...
15/10/2026

“You often live in a world of silence because it’s just easier to say you’re okay..."

🩸 In 1973, Karen was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). At that time, the survival rate was less than 5%.

"The treatment at this time was chemotherapy and cranial radiation. The radiation was given over a period of one month, with no scatter precautions and purple lines down my face.

“There was limited knowledge of the condition and no resources to learn about the survival rate."

Over 50 years on, Karen says living with the long-term effects of cancer treatment is a very debilitating and stressful experience.

“It's quite a battle to live in the bubble of being a childhood cancer survivor.

"Society is limited in its knowledge about life after cancer. It becomes really frustrating and difficult to explain to people.

"From a long-term survivorship perspective, the costs of medical procedures and medications are extremely expensive.

"There were no foundations around when I was going through my cancer treatment. No internet, no support groups, and no literature for my parents to read.

"Thankfully, times have changed for the better." 🩵

“We’ve calculated the financial impact of Brandan’s cancer journey at over $350,000 in lost income, costs and long-term ...
14/10/2026

“We’ve calculated the financial impact of Brandan’s cancer journey at over $350,000 in lost income, costs and long-term impact…”

👩‍👦 For National Carers Week, Kylie has shared her family's journey since her son Brandan was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2024.

“What we thought was a bowel issue, we pushed for a blood test, and shortly afterward we received the call telling us to go straight to hospital.

“We live in Cairns, and within hours we were on a plane to Brisbane for treatment. We never returned home as a family...

💲 “I don't think people realise how quickly the hidden costs of cancer add up. I had to shut down my business almost overnight to become Brandan’s full-time carer, meaning we lost my income while still trying to maintain our family financially.

“We faced accommodation, food, travel between Cairns and Brisbane, relocation, medical, and everyday living expenses, plus many costs Medicare or other assistance didn't fully cover.

“Redkite helped us pay the car insurance and registration, and we were able to use the petrol vouchers. It made life so much easier.

"If we didn’t have that in those first six months, I think we would’ve been on the streets. You never think it’s going to happen to you. And when it does, it takes over. It’s all-encompassing.

“Our new normal is very different from life before Brandan’s cancer. We’re still in Brisbane so Brandan can remain close to his treating hospital and medical team, and we know the impact of his illness will continue long after treatment finishes.

🎬 “His dream of joining the Navy is no longer possible, but through opportunities with Redkite’s Dare to Dream Scholarship, he discovered a passion for media and has completed a Certificate in Film and Media.

“I’m also finally returning to work after putting my career and business on hold, so we’re slowly rebuilding our lives and looking forward to what comes next.

“When your child is diagnosed, you need to be able to focus on keeping them alive and supporting your family, not proving over and over again you’re in financial crisis.

“Please don't be afraid to ask for help, and keep asking even if the first answer is no. You don't know how much you’re carrying until someone finally helps carry it with you.”

13/10/2026

🚨 BREAKING: Bipartisan commitment to end Victoria's cancer postcode penalty!

Within 24 hours of the Carroll Labor Government's $53.6 million election commitment to the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS), the Liberal and Nationals Coalition has matched it in full.

We commend Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier, and the Coalition for acting immediately and committing to raise the accommodation subsidy from $49.50 to $125 per night and the vehicle rate from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre.

CEO Chris Tanti said the speed of the response showed the strength of community support behind the campaign.

🗣️ "This morning we said Labor's commitment was a breakthrough, but not a guarantee. Now, with both major parties committed to the same rates, it is far closer to one."

We thank the Coalition for matching this commitment without delay.

We also thank the more than 3,000 Victorians who signed our Cut the Cost of Cancer petition ( cutcancercost.org.au 📝), and our partners in the VPTAS Alliance, whose combined advocacy made this impossible to ignore.

13/10/2026

📣 Major patient transport funding news!

We welcome the Carroll Labor Government’s election commitment to invest $53.6 million in the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).

The investment would lift the accommodation subsidy from $49.50 to $125 per night and the private-vehicle rate from 21 to 35 cents per kilometre.

If delivered, the commitment would move Victoria from last to equal first alongside South Australia on our National Patient Travel Scorecard, released last month.

The commitment follows the launch of the Cut the Cost of Cancer campaign, with more than 3,000 Victorians signing a petition calling for the accommodation rate to be lifted to $125 per night.

The Leukaemia Foundation is one of 19 cancer, research and consumer organisations in the VPTAS Alliance calling on Victoria to lift its regional patient travel support.

Our CEO, Chris Tanti, said the commitment would ease a financial burden that regional Victorians had carried for too long.

🗣️ "This commitment demonstrates what’s possible when community advocacy and political will come together.

“Regional Victorians facing cancer now have something they haven’t had before: a clear, costed promise to end the postcode penalty. We’ll be holding every party to that standard.

"This commitment is a breakthrough. However, it isn’t a guarantee. Until every party has made its position clear, regional Victorians facing cancer still don’t know whether this support will be there after 28 November.”

🩸 For someone fighting blood cancer, delaying or missing treatment can have serious, life-threatening consequences.

Blood cancers are among the most complex cancers to diagnose and treat, often progressing rapidly and requiring urgent, intensive and highly specialised care.

💲 Patients and their families can face the double blow of reduced income alongside mounting costs for treatment, medication, travel, accommodation, and everyday living expenses.

Help support all Australians impacted by cancer by signing our petition at cutcancercost.org.au 📝

🩸 Greg survived blood cancer twice, after an unusual blood test result first sent him to the hospital. "I was first diag...
12/10/2026

🩸 Greg survived blood cancer twice, after an unusual blood test result first sent him to the hospital.

"I was first diagnosed with MGUS in 2008, which progressed to multiple myeloma. My haematologist sent me for tests at a hospital, where a nurse told me I had cancer. That really shocked me!"

While undergoing chemotherapy for myeloma, it was discovered that Greg had lymphoma in his stomach 💔

“I needed surgery – my stomach, spleen and part of my pancreas were removed. In 2017, I had a stem cell transplant.

"In 2020 I had radiation treatment on a lesion on my pelvis. I was in remission until 2025 but needed to start a trial immunotherapy drug that has since put me back in remission.”

While most of Greg's treatment was through the public system and saved him a lot of money, he says unseen costs of cancer have still affected his family.

💲“Being unable to work has been the biggest financial impact. The original haematologist and the outpatient drugs have been major costs.

“My family have been very supportive and work around my treatment days and side effects. We pretty much enjoy a normal life.

“The Leukaemia Foundation is and has been really supportive. The support contacts and being able to share the experience with others who understand has been terrific for us.” 🩵

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