Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2025

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize the millions of people worldwide affected by leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. At Nihon Kohden, we believe that advancing diagnostics is one of the most powerful ways to support the fight against these conditions. Our innovative IVD solutions enable early detection, precise monitoring, and streamlined laboratory operations, helping clinicians provide the best possible care.

Blood Cancer in Europe

In Europe, blood cancers represent a significant health burden. According to data published by the Global Cancer Observatory, non-Hodgkin lymphoma for 92,754 cases and 36,032 deaths, leukaemia accounted for 73,636 new cases and 45,072 deaths, and multiple myeloma for 35,354 cases and 22,725 deaths across the 27 EU countries. Hodgkin lymphoma, though less common, still contributed 12,354 new cases and 2,165 deaths. These figures highlight the importance of early and accurate diagnosis, which is essential for initiating effective treatment and improving survival outcomes.

The Signs and Symptoms of Blood Cancer

While there are some symptoms for blood cancers that are similar across the three main types of blood cancers, like fatigue, each type does present with specific symptoms. 

In Leukaemia, symptoms often result from the suppression of normal blood cell production which leads to weakness due to anemia, frequent infections from impaired immune function, bruising easily, swollen lymph nodes and unexplained weight loss. 

Lymphomas can vary in aggressiveness and may present with symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, fever, unexplained weight loss and enlarged spleen or liver. If diagnosed early, lymphomas often respond well to treatment.

Finally, since Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, the symptoms often seen are persistent bone pain, frequent infection, kidney dysfunction and numbness due to nerve damage. 

There are still many other symptoms that could point to blood cancer, but it is important to have lab diagnostics done in line with evaluation of physical symptoms presented to confirm any diagnosis.

Early Detection Saves Lives

As with many diseases, early detection of blood cancers is critical to identifying the best treatment plan and support patient outcomes. Physicians use a combination of diagnostic tools to confirm the presence and type of blood cancer. Common diagnostic tests relevant to blood cancers would include blood tests like Complete Blood Count (CBC) to detect abnormal levels of blood cells, bone marrow biopsies to examine the marrow for cancerous cells, and imaging studies such as CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans to assess the extent of disease spread. The choice of tests depends on the suspected cancer type, and early, accurate diagnosis is crucial for initiating effective treatment and improving patient outcomes.

Innovative Hematology Analyzers for Early and Reliable Results

Blood cancers often require prompt detection to guide urgent clinical decisions. Our hematology analyzer, the Celltac G+ MEK-9200 is developed with cutting-edge technologies to deliver:

• Comprehensive parameters (up to 39, including Immature Granulocyte and Reticulocyte ratios)
• Micro-sampling for pediatric or critical care patients, using the capillary blood collection tube adapter
• High precision and accuracy, powered by DynaHelix Flow and DynaScatter Laser +HEM488 technologies

These features support accurate diagnosis of patient samples to identify abnormal cells early and support clinicians in delivering timely interventions.

A Shared Mission

Blood Cancer Awareness Month is not only about raising awareness but also about reinforcing the importance of collaboration between patients, clinicians, and innovators. At Nihon Kohden, we are proud to contribute through advanced diagnostic solutions that improve workflows and support life-saving decisions. Together, we move closer toward a future where blood cancers are detected earlier and treated more effectively.