We observe the impact daily. People languish in uncertainty, grappling with both the unpredictable nature of leukaemia and the emotional burden of feeling marginalized. This is why I advocate for a fundamental change in our support for cancer patients.

This transformation begins with providing every patient with a comprehensive needs assessment and personalized care plan, ideally initiated before or at the outset of treatment. These are not mere formalities; they are the bedrock of empathetic, cohesive care.

Our data corroborates this, showing that more than half of patients on an ‘active monitoring’ pathway experience elevated anxiety or depression levels. However, those we support report a lack of available emotional support post-diagnosis.

Patients diagnosed with conditions like ALL and CML are among those experiencing significant emotional distress, with 6% feeling persistently anxious or depressed.

But we know that the right support changes lives. In 2024, counselling uptake rose by 33%, and outcomes improved dramatically, with twice as many people reporting feeling less anxious and less isolated, and one person a week was able to complete their support sessions and move forward with renewed strength.

Let’s not forget the link between financial pressure and mental health either. A 20% increase in demand for our welfare service highlights just how interwoven money worries are with emotional wellbeing. One in three people diagnosed with leukaemia were no longer able to work or study – that’s a life changed in more ways than one.

We also saw the power of peer support in action, with more than 200 people helped by our buddy volunteer service, demand for which rose by nearly 50% year-on-year. Whether it’s counselling, clear information, or someone who simply understands, our message remains that emotional support is not a luxury, It’s a lifeline.

And it’s not just patients, Macmillan states that two-thirds of carers experience anxiety, and 42% face depression, yet more than 75% receive no psychological support. They are often the emotional anchor in a family, holding everything together while holding in their own fears.

For more than 50 years, Leukaemia Care has been dedicated to ensuring that everyone affected by a leukaemia diagnosis receives the best possible information, advice, treatment and support. We’ve stood alongside patients and their families through the most difficult of times and we’ve seen first-hand how holistic, person-centred care can change lives.

But we cannot do it alone. Charities like ours can fill gaps, raise awareness, and push for better but the responsibility for consistent, high-quality mental health support should not rest on fundraising alone.

It’s time for the health system to step up and ensure that emotional wellbeing is embedded into the cancer care pathway from day one. Every patient deserves support that reflects the full reality of their experience, not just the clinical side.

This is why we are supporting the Daily Express’s Cancer Care campaign to ensure all cancer patients have mental health support both during and after treatment.

Until that happens, we will keep campaigning, because living with cancer shouldn’t come at the cost of your mental health.