New Research On Cancer And Work Reinforces Cancerbackup's Report That Cancer Patients Need More Support, UK

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 21 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

In response to Macmillan's campaign launched on the difficulty people affected by cancer can experience at work, Cancerbackup issues the following response:

"Macmillan's campaign reinforces Cancerbackup's own research about the problems people with cancer can face at work," says Joanne Rule Cancerbackup chief executive. "One in five people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their working life. Cancerbackup provides information and support for employees affected by cancer at work, as well as tailored information for employers so that they can fully support them. Too many people are telling us that they feel they have to give up work as a result of cancer. Employers are waking up and taking action. It makes good business sense for companies to provide the best support and information possible to their employees affected by cancer."

Recent research carried out by the cancer information charity Cancerbackup in July 07, shows that nearly a third of employees (29%) diagnosed with cancer do not return to work and less than a fifth (17%) received information from their employers to support them. Cancerbackup's research also showed that over a third of people (37%) felt that having cancer has reduced their career prospects and 12% of people felt they were discriminated against at work because of cancer.

Cancerbackup provides comprehensive information on cancer at work for people affected by cancer, covering everything from advice on talking to colleagues to financial issues, managing treatment and returning to work. The charity also provides individually tailored support to companies to ensure that their employees are fully supported and have direct access to Cancerbackup's services. Guidelines for HR managers and line managers, produced in partnership with Working with Cancer and the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development), on how to support employees are included in the tailored support offered.

1) Cancerbackup is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer.

2) All Cancerbackup services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends.

3) Cancerbackup Freephone Information Service: 0808 800 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm). Cancerbackup Centres can be found in St Bartholomew's Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, the London Clinic, The Christie Hospital, Ipswich Hospital, Nottingham University Hospitals, Coventry's University Hospital and Jersey. The charity's website can be found at http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk

4) Cancerbackup, as a charity, receives 54% of its funding from individuals, 11% from charitable trusts, 5% from grants, 14% from companies, 2% from investments and 14% from its trading company. Pharmaceutical companies contributed 9% of the total 2005/06 income.

5) In April 2006 Cancerbackup changed its name from CancerBACUP, so that the charity's name better represents the service the charity provides: information, understanding and support to anyone affected by cancer.

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk

• Additional
• References
• Citations