Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

CancerSickness absence managementOccupational Health

One in four workers with cancer will keep diagnosis secret

by Nic Paton 13 May 2024
by Nic Paton 13 May 2024 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

One in four employees with cancer will keep the diagnosis to themselves because they feel unable to talk about their illness at work, research has suggested.

A report by the cancer support provider Reframe Cancer has warned this makes it more likely they will need to take prolonged absences from work and even consider resignation as a result.

The research, which was commissioned by Reframe Cancer among 500 UK adults who have worked with cancer, found that 28% avoided talking about their illness with colleagues.

Men especially found opening up a tough conversation, with half (49%) saying they did not feel comfortable talking openly with their peers. And 60% of employees aged over 55 agreed with this.

Cancer and work

How to support a return to work during cancer treatment

Possible vaccine against skin cancer takes step forward

Stop-smoking support should be offered alongside lung cancer screening

But they were not alone in struggling to talk about the condition in the workplace, as 16% of employees said they had experienced colleagues ‘actively avoiding’ the topic with them, Reframe Cancer said.

As a result, 45% believed their colleagues considered them to be a burden during their time trying to juggle work responsibilities with cancer and 35% said they felt isolated.

What’s more, a direct link was made between employees who feel that they’ve become a burden with those who take extended periods of sick leave – with the average employee taking a 15-week absence.

It’s estimated that there are currently 900,000 people in the UK who have cancer that are of working age (16 to 64 years old).

Yet, despite the rising rate of people working with cancer, the study revealed that employers are ill-prepared to cope, as 77% of workers considered the current levels of support offered fall seriously short of meeting their needs.

Mark Stephenson, chief executive of Reframe Cancer, said: “Cancer is a topic most people tiptoe around. But this lack of openness and support is leading to many employees feeling they are battling it alone.

“During our research we were saddened to hear that many people are taking longer periods of absence from work and even considering resigning because of their negative workplace experiences.

“But the experience of working with cancer doesn’t need to be negative. Our research found that when employees feel supported by their employer and their peers, they are more likely to consider work to be a good distraction and they feel less pressure to return to work before they are well enough.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“What’s more, workers can come out of the other side of their health battle with more loyalty and resilience, greater compassion and empathy. They can become greater advocates,” Stephenson added.

The study – findings of which are included in charity’s The Employee Experience Report: Living and Working with Cancer – also found that as few as 27% of employees shared their pre-diagnosis concerns with their employer and a little over half (55%) told their managers at the point of diagnosis.

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consultant editor at Personnel Today. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for Personnel Today and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Mental Health Awareness Week: Half of workers with burnout struggle alone
next post
Minimum service levels judicial review gets green light

You may also like

Cancer carers feel pressure to return to work...

13 May 2025

How to help employees quit vaping before new...

22 Apr 2025

NHS urging people to check for cancer warning...

22 Apr 2025

Returning to work top concern for employees with...

15 Apr 2025

Calls growing for UK national asbestos register

4 Apr 2025

Employers failing to tell cancer carers of their...

31 Mar 2025

Bomb disposal veterans at heightened risk of bladder...

24 Mar 2025

Half of adults globally set to be obese...

3 Mar 2025

How businesses can support young people with cancer...

24 Feb 2025

Brake pad dust more toxic than diesel exhaust...

14 Feb 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today