Cancer
This page gives basic information on cancer in the workplace, links to advice on how to support employees with a cancer diagnosis, details of legal duties and entitlements, and links to helpful organisations.
Quick links:
- Cancer and the workplace
- Causes of cancer
- Different types of cancer
- Stages of cancer disease
- Treatments for cancer
- Advice for managers and colleagues on supporting people with cancer
- Legal considerations around employees with cancer
- Further information on cancer in the workplace
- Other useful reference sites and documents
Cancer and the workplace
Cancer now affects one in three people, and each year in the UK there are approximately 90,000 people of working age who receive a new cancer diagnosis.
Research shows that finding ways to support people with cancer is a worthwhile thing to do:
"People who have had treatment for cancer are as productive as people who have not had cancer – they take less time off work than other employees, and in general, perform well in the workplace."
Shulz, P. et al (2002), Cancer Survivors – Work-related Issues, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal.
Causes of cancer
The causes of cancer are varied and complex. Some can be attributed to lifestyle, others to genetic traits inherited from our parents, or to exposure to viruses, radiation and other hazardous substances. In many cases, a combination of factors will contribute to causing cancer.
In the workplace, exposure to certain chemicals and other agents, such as sources of ionising radiation and asbestos, can cause cancers.
Employers must conduct a Risk Assessment to identify and eliminate, or control risks to their employees from hazardous substances.
→ Read more on Hazardous Substances
Different types of cancer
Cancer is not one disease, in fact there are up to 200 different kinds that can occur in any of the organs of the body.
Examples include cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, skin, bowel, liver or lung. There are also cancers of the blood and lymph systems such as leukaemia and lymphoma. Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins disease are both types of lymphoma.
Stages of cancer disease
The name of the cancer refers to where the first tumour occurs, e.g. breast cancer. The first occurrence of cancer is called a primary tumour.
If the cancer spreads from the initial site, the subsequent tumours are called metastases and could show up anywhere in the body having travelled through the blood or lymphatic systems.
When a cancer has metastasised to another part of the body, the tumour is called a secondary. For example, breast cancer may lead to secondary tumours in the liver. As the primary tumour was breast cancer, it is still called breast cancer even though the tumour is somewhere else.
Treatments for cancer
The treatment of cancer varies and can consist of removing the primary tumour through surgery and possibly also killing off any stray cells around the area with radiotherapy.
Sometimes, chemotherapy is also suggested to reach cells that have moved to a different part of the body, but everyone is different. Chemotherapy is sometimes used as an initial treatment to shrink a tumour before surgery.
Different types of treatment include:
- Surgery – this involves removing all or part of the tumour in an operation
- Chemotherapy – the use of chemical agents (cytotoxic drugs) to kill cancer cells
- Radiotherapy – uses powerful X-rays directed specifically at the area of the tumour to destroy the cancer cells
- Hormone treatment – because the body's hormonal ('endocrine') system is involved in some cancers, hormone treatment is often used to regulate the levels of hormones in the body
- Immunotherapy – the aim of this type of treatment is to stimulate the immune system so that it can fight the cancer itself. Monoclonal antibodies are one form of immunotherapy.
Advice for managers and colleagues on supporting people with cancer
Sometimes it is difficult to talk about cancer to family, friend and colleagues.
The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives and Macmillan Cancer Support have produced a booklet offering much useful guidance on the subject for employers:
→ Download Cancer in the Workplace booklet
Legal considerations around employees with cancer
Disability Discrimination Act
In 2005, all people with cancer were included in the remit for the Disability Discrimination Act and given new legal protection from the point of first diagnosis of their cancer.
→ Read more on the Disability Discrimination Act
Statutory Sick Pay
Employees who are off work because of cancer or the treatment of it may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
→ Further details can be found on the Department of Work and Pensions website (external site).
Flexible working
Depending on circumstances, sometimes an employee will need to take care of a family member who becomes ill. Under the Work and Families Act (2006) carers now have the right to request flexible working. This new right came into force in April 2007.
→ Read more on carers and employment on the direct.gov website (external site)
Further information on cancer in the workplace
- Email your query now
- Call our Adviceline on 0800 019 2211
Access to Work (external site)
Based in local Jobcentres, Access to Work provides advice and practical support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome any work-related problems resulting from a disability.
Check the Jobcentre Plus website for local offices (external site)
Department for Work and Pensions (external site)
General information for employers
Directgov – Disabled People pages (external site)
Produced by the Central Offices of Information, Directgov provides information from across UK government departments on topics including work and disability, rights and responsibilities and carers.
Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) (external site)
The Equal Opportunities Commission was formed in 2007 and combines the Disability Rights Commission and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The EOC website has useful information for employers.
EOC Helpline (Scotland): 0845 604 5510
Textphone: 0845 604 5520
Breast Cancer Care Scotland (external site)
Helpline, literature, living with breast cancer courses, healthy living days, young women’s forum, advice on bras, swimwear, prosthesis, emotional support for trained volunteers, who have been affected by breast cancer, advice on hair loss, scarf tying and alternatives to wigs.
Helpline: 0808 800 6000
Bowel Cancer UK (external site)
National Charity dedicated to raising awareness of bowel cancer, improving the quality of life of those affected and reducing deaths from the disease.
Tel: 0131 225 5333
Email: admin@bowelcancer.org.uk
Cancerbackup Scotland (external site)
Cancer backup offers information, advice and emotional support to cancer patients and their families. It has publications about the main types of cancer, treatments and ways of living with cancer.
Cancer Index (external site)
A guide to internet resources for cancer listing over 4,000 organisations
Carers Scotland (external site)
Carers Scotland is the Scottish national office of Carers UK. It campaigns for a better understanding of the issues affecting carers and the types of services most needed.
Crossroads Caring Scotland (external site)
Voluntary organisation delivering flexible care for carers through 48 schemes providing care and breaks for Scotland’s carers.
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland (external site)
Cruse is a charity offering free, confidential information and services for anyone who is bereaved.
Citizens Advice Scotland (external site)
For details of your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau phone 020 7833 218, check your local phonebook or browse the Citizens Advice Scotland website.
Macmillan Cancer Support (external site)
Website provides information about cancer and services for people affected by cancer and for health care professionals.
Macmillan CancerLine
Tel: 0808 808 2020
Email cancerline@macmillan.org.uk
"If you need someone to talk to who understands what you are going through, we’re here. Our specialist advisers help to identify what information you need and which organisation can best provide it. We will listen to your particular issues with empathy and respect, and explain how Macmillan can help."
If you leave a message out of hours, an adviser will phone back.
Macmillan Benefits Helpline
Tel: 0808 801 0304
Benefits advice from trained advisors.
The Prostate Cancer Charity (external site)
Provides support and information to anyone concerned about prostate cancer via a range of free information leaflets, a confidential nurse-led helpline and a network of volunteers.
Tak Tent Cancer Support Scotland (external site)
Information and support to cancer patients, their relatives and friends, health professionals and support groups, including youth groups, available in communities throughout the west and central Scotland. Counselling services and complementary therapies are available.
Working after Cancer (external site)
Set up by a man who had cancer, this site provides practical advice on employment issues as well as emotional support.
Other useful reference sites and documents
Better Cancer Care – a discussion (external site)
Download or view online the Scottish Government's 2008 discussion document on preventing cancer and improving cancer care.
Better Cancer Care-An Action Plan
Download or view online the Better Cancer Care: Action Plan.
Health and Safety Executive – Cancer Statistics (external site)
Facts and figures from the Health and Safety Executive.
World Health Organisation
→ Download Prevention of Occupational Cancer (PDF – 1.6MB, external site)
The World Health Organisation Occupational Health Network Newsletter issue No. 11, 2006
→ Download Occupational Carcinogens (PDF – 430KB, external site)
Research from the World Health Organisation with statistics on cancer risks for various agents.
