"We've been to hell and back."

Father, performance artist and descendant of Lightning Ridge's Muruwari people, Matthew Doyle shared how he struggled after the diagnosis and eventual deaths of his identical twin boys to leukaemia.

September is globally recognised as Blood Cancer awareness month, and with numbers increasing rapidly, Leukaemia Foundation ambassador Matthew Doyle says its important that people know more about the disease and how to find support.

In 1995 Matthew and his wife were thrilled to learn they were soon to be first time parents.

"Finding out you're pregnant with twins is pretty exciting," he said.

And in September the family of two doubled in size when their identical twins, Shawn and Jeremy were born, and Matthew couldn’t be happier.

But a few short months later, Shawn started to act strange.

"When Shawn was about 12 months old he wasn’t himself, quiet and not sleeping," Matthew said.

The couple took him to the hospital to run tests, and weeks later the devastating results came back.

Shawn was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

He began chemotherapy and stem cell transplant treatments soon after.

Blood cancers accounted for an estimated 38% of all cancer cases among the 0–19 year-old age group in Australia in 2023. [IMAGE: NHMRC]

 The doctors were uncertain what this meant for Shawn's identical twin, and the question asking whether Jeremy could get cancer as well went unanswered.

But six months after Shawn's diagnosis, Jeremy started showing the same symptoms as his brother. The tests showed he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

He began the same treatments as Shawn.

But after months of fighting Shawn passed away at only one-and-a-half years old.

Jeremy succumbed to his disease a year later.

Matthew and his wife were devastated.

Matthew, who still has family in the Lightning Ridge area, says he drew strength from his culture to help him through the loss of his sons.

"If I was feeling down - struggling with depression - I could use my culture," he said.

"I could sing, I could dance, play digeridoo."

The boys would have turned thirty this month.

Now, after years of healing and working through the traumatic loss of his sons, Matthew turned to the Leukemia Foundation to offer his support for families dealing with the effects of blood cancer.

"I volunteer all my time," he said.

Blood cancers are the second highest cause of cancer related deaths, according to The Leukaemia Foundation.

"Blood cancer has cemented itself as Australia’s silent and hidden cancer crisis with a dire need for greater awareness, education, and understanding within the Australian community," a spokesperson for the Leukaemia Foundation said.

The disease has no known cure.

Over 20-thousand Australians are expected to be newly diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma this year.

The Leukemia Foundation predicts number to double in 2035.

 Matthew said it is important to be educated on the disease.

"Do research and make yourself aware of the symptoms," he said.

"Don’t wait to get checked out with a doctor, if symptoms come up just get to a doctor straight away.

"The biggest thing with blood cancers - they don’t discriminate".

Blood cancer awareness month promotes the understanding and support for people affected by the diseases.

While there is a chemotherapy clinic in Coonabarabran and an oncology treatment clinic in Walgett, the closest blood cancer service in the western NSW region is in Dubbo.

However the Leukemia Foundation provide online support to remote communities who are affected by blood cancer.

The Leukemia Foundation provides free professional healthcare support and education through online services.