Each year almost 120,000 people of working age are diagnosed with cancer in the UK. In 2012 I was one of those 120,000.
I’d been in a new job for six months when I was diagnosed with cancer. On top of coming to terms with the diagnosis, learning about treatment options and side effects, and breaking the news to family and friends, I was also worried about what would happen to me at work and how my employer would respond to the news of my diagnosis.
I was lucky. My employer was really supportive and encouraged me to take the time I needed for treatment and recovery. Some of my work colleagues kept in touch by text and email and the HR team emailed me regularly to check how I was. I was really grateful for the support: it helped me cope with treatment and rebuild my health and fitness after treatment.
Work and cancer
Not everyone gets that sort of support. Almost half of people living with cancer who were in work when they were diagnosed (47%) say their employer didn’t discuss sick pay, flexible working, or making workplace adjustments when they told them of their diagnosis. Almost one in five people who returned to work after their cancer diagnosis (18%) say they’ve experienced a lack of understanding of their needs from their employer or work colleagues.
And 57% of those of us who are cancer survivors, who were in work when we were diagnosed, have had to give up work or change our roles as a result of the diagnosis. While 60% of us living with cancer, who returned to work after diagnosis, went straight back to our normal working hours.
Fair treatment
Many of us don’t know what our employment rights are, or how to make sure we’re being treated fairly at work. A YouGov survey in 2014 found that less than 50% of people diagnosed with cancer knew that cancer is covered by the Equality Act. But Macmillan’s campaign, Cancer isn’t fair but your boss has to be, aims to make sure people affected by cancer know what their rights at work are, and know how to get the support they need. And there isn’t just support for people with cancer. If you’re a carer, a work colleague, or an employer, you can get information. We all need to make sure change happens and people affected by cancer are treated fairly at work.
Get involved
If, like me, you want to help Macmillan demand better outcomes for people affected by cancer, you can sign up to be an e-campaigner and keep up-to-date with Macmillan’s campaigns on the campaigns blog.
