September isn’t just the start of autumn and pumpkin spice season, it’s also a it’s a critical battleground in the fight against cancer. Across the globe, September shines a spotlight on five major cancer awareness campaigns: childhood cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, mesothelioma, and blood cancers. Each of these campaigns carries a powerful mission: to educate, to detect early, to save lives, and to push forward the boundaries of research.
Why does this matter? Every year, millions of people are affected by these cancers, and early awareness can mean the difference between life and death. From the youngest patients bravely facing leukemia to adults battling prostate or ovarian cancer, September is a time to listen, learn, and act. Awareness doesn’t just inform, it empowers families, communities, and healthcare systems to make a tangible impact.
In this article, we take a deep dive into each awareness campaign, revealing key statistics, surprising facts, and real-world insights. Along the way, we’ll uncover how you can play a role in spreading awareness and supporting those affected by these diseases.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize the courage of children facing cancer and the efforts of researchers, clinicians, and families supporting them. Childhood cancers are rare but significant, affecting thousands of children worldwide.
Globally, it’s estimated that approximately 300,000 children aged 0-19 are diagnosed with cancer each year. The most common types include leukemia, brain and central nervous system tumors, lymphomas, and neuroblastoma. Survival rates have improved dramatically over the past decades, with developed countries reporting around 80% five-year survival for many childhood cancers. However, in low- and middle-income countries, survival rates can be dramatically lower due to limited access to treatment and late diagnosis.
Read more about Neuroblastoma on Oncodaily website here.
Why awareness matters: Early detection is critical, as children often exhibit subtle symptoms like persistent fatigue, unexplained bruising, or prolonged fever. Awareness campaigns educate parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals about early warning signs and encourage timely interventions.
Did you know? Some childhood cancers, like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), have cure rates exceeding 90% when diagnosed early and treated appropriately.
You can find more articles featuring Childhood Cancer Awareness Month on Oncodaily’s website.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Ovarian cancer, often called the “silent killer,” is highlighted during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September. This type of cancer affects the ovaries, and because symptoms are often vague, such as bloating, abdominal discomfort, and changes in appetite, it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Globally, around 313,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and it causes over 200,000 deaths annually. Survival depends heavily on the stage at diagnosis: early-stage ovarian cancer has a 5-year survival rate of approximately 90%, while late-stage diagnosis drops survival to around 30%.
Read more about ovarian cancer and its symptoms, causes, stages, diagnosis and treatment on our website.
Key risk factors include age (most cases occur in women over 50), family history of ovarian or breast cancer, and certain genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Preventive strategies like genetic testing, vigilant monitoring, and in some cases prophylactic surgery can make a lifesaving difference.
Did you know? Ovarian cancer can sometimes be detected through subtle changes in your digestive health – persistent bloating or early satiety should never be ignored.
You can find more articles featuring Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month on Oncodaily’s website.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
September also brings attention to Prostate Cancer Awareness, focusing on one of the most common cancers among men worldwide. Prostate cancer arises in the prostate gland, and early stages often show no symptoms, making screening crucial.
Each year, over 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer globally, with approximately 375,000 deaths. Age is a significant risk factor, with men over 50 most affected, and family history further increases risk. Screening via the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and digital rectal exams can catch cancers early, improving treatment outcomes.
What Patients Should Know About Prostate Cancer – read the original article by Oncodaily.
Interesting insight: While prostate cancer is common, most men diagnosed with it, especially in early stages, can live a long, healthy life with proper monitoring and treatment.
Did you know? In some countries, prostate cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men, highlighting the importance of awareness, early detection, and research.
For more articles covering Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, check out our Oncodaily’s website.
Blood Cancer Awareness Month
September also shines a spotlight on blood cancers, a group of diseases that strike at the very heart of our body’s life force: the blood and bone marrow. This category includes leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, each unique but all demanding urgent attention. Unlike many cancers that form solid tumors, blood cancers are stealthy, flowing through the bloodstream, often unseen until symptoms appear.
Globally, blood cancers account for roughly 10% of all new cancer diagnoses, affecting people of all ages. From the youngest children bravely battling leukemia to adults confronting lymphoma, these cancers remind us that disease doesn’t discriminate. The good news? Advances in immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and precision medicine are turning the tide, transforming previously fatal diagnoses into stories of survival and hope.
Awareness is more than just statistics, it’s about spotting the subtle signs: unexplained fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising, or swollen lymph nodes. Early detection can be life-changing.
Read more about Leukemia on Oncodaily website here.
Did you know? Stem cell and bone marrow transplants, once considered extreme measures, now offer curative potential for many blood cancers, giving patients a second chance at life. In recent years, innovative therapies like CAR-T have shown remission rates exceeding 80% in certain blood cancers, a triumph that was unimaginable just a decade ago.
Multiple Myeloma – Symptoms, Causes, Stages, Diagnosis and Treatment – original article by Oncodaily.
By shining a spotlight on blood cancer this September, we honor the fighters, celebrate the breakthroughs, and empower everyone to stay vigilant, informed, and proactive.
For more articles covering Blood Cancer Awareness Month, check out our Oncodaily’s website.
Mesothelioma Awareness Month
Lastly, September also marks Mesothelioma Awareness Month, drawing attention to a rare but aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, and its symptoms, shortness of breath, chest pain, or persistent coughing, often appear decades after exposure, making it a silent but deadly disease.
Globally, about 30,000 people are diagnosed each year, and unfortunately, the prognosis is often grim. But awareness can make a dramatic difference. Campaigns this month focus on prevention, early detection, and legal advocacy for those exposed to asbestos, while also highlighting groundbreaking research in treatment.
Why awareness matters: Mesothelioma is largely preventable. By educating workers about asbestos risks and ensuring proper safety measures in construction, shipbuilding, and industrial settings, we can drastically reduce future cases. Meanwhile, researchers are pushing the limits of medicine with immunotherapies and targeted treatments, offering hope to patients who once faced a bleak outlook.
Did you know? Some people diagnosed with mesothelioma have survived well beyond the average prognosis thanks to early intervention, participation in clinical trials, and innovative therapies. The fight against this cancer is as much about advocacy and education as it is about treatment, reminding us that knowledge can truly save lives.
More articles covering Mesothelioma Awareness Month can be found on our Oncodaily’s website.
By ending the article with mesothelioma, September’s cancer awareness campaigns close with a powerful call to action: understand the risks, push for prevention, and support research that transforms survival from unlikely to possible.
Written by Sergey Badalyan, MD