How to Support Employees with Cancer

It took me a while to realize that the early stages of cancer are a wake-up call not a death sentence. For many people the word “cancer” sets off alarm bells that increase anxiety, stress, and negative emotions which can decrease the ability to manage the situation. A more positive attitude is useful as it allows us to see people with love and compassion rather than sympathy and pity for their cancer diagnosis which only serves to keep people in victim status. When we show love and compassion, we empower others to find their inner strength and have hope. When we find ways to support people, they are better able to cope with whatever they need to do to reach their best possible state of health and wellbeing.

I’m speaking from experience as my emotions spun out of control in 1987 when I was diagnosed with 3 primary cancers, and I believe I would have died if I had not received much valuable support from my family, friends, and colleagues. I worked as an X-ray technologist in a busy hospital in the lower mainland of British Columbia; this was in 1987, and the oncologist recommended that I continue to work through chemotherapy. It was hard for me to see how I could continue to work, but the Department Head and the Supervisor took immediate action to help me figure out a schedule which allowed at least 3 days off after each treatment. My colleagues helped me to cope with the workload and when I had a difficult case, someone would show up beside me to help – they were all amazing and I am forever grateful to every one of them.

Over the years I’ve heard stories from people who have not received helpful support at work, and this can lead to a very different outcome. Every person has a different story to tell, and the circumstances vary so much that we never really know what someone else is going through. However, in listening to others I sometimes hear that when they are off work, they feel isolated from colleagues and out of the loop at work which may take away some of their purpose in life. There is a comprehensive website called Cancer and Work which is a combined effort of McGill University and BC Cancer. The website has a variety of articles pertaining to communication with work and colleagues, as well as many ideas on helping people return to work (Cancer, 2024 – a).

One common concern is that cancer patients don’t know what to share regarding their health status. Every person has unique concerns, but there’s a simple tool which can help to manage situations, and that is to rehearse conversations before they happen. The idea is that people try to anticipate what questions they may be asked and to figure out in advance what they are willing to share. Rehearsing what to say can relieve some stress on the part of people who find it upsetting to talk about their situation and helps to prevent them from blurting out things they would rather not share. The article titled Who gets to know: How to exercise your power of “disclosure” on the Cancer and Work website provides ideas on many aspects of a gradual return to work (Cancer, 2024-b).

One of my biggest fears after cancer treatment was that of recurrence. With the help of my support system, I changed my lifestyle habits and I’ve been cancer free since 1987. The World Health Organization (WHO) website claims that 30 to 50% of cancers can be prevented by having a healthy lifestyle and the bonus for employers is that this is “the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer” (WHO, 2024).

There are workplace programs which can help all employees take care of their health including prevention of cancer or recurrence. It makes sense for employers to offer programs so that all employees can be supported to create and maintain healthy lifestyle habits; these programs should be easily accessible and will hopefully help to build good relationships among colleagues as they work together to protect their health.

The University of Guelph (U of G) has an excellent program called Wellness at Work which includes a wide variety of activities for employees to take positive action towards education and personal development (U of G, 2024). For example, the U of G has a specific document to guide people through the process of helping colleagues in distress. You can see the range of programs by looking at an example of a monthly calendar for U of G.

Smaller companies will not be able to offer the same range as large institutions, but there are plenty of choices for them as well. Walking is the most therapeutic activity for the mind and body (24HourFitness, 2024) especially if there is access to a nature trail or a park, and it’s easy to organize group walks before or after work, or at lunchtime. YouTube videos offer many options for gentle exercise such as yoga, tai chi, or qi cong. Webinars is another great option– for example,12 Weeks to Wellness offers engaging and interactive sessions that raise awareness of various health issues. They range from 15 to 60+ minutes, can be offered over lunch time and followed with a group discussion (12Weeks, 2024).

Mainstream medicine provides surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and other drug treatments for cancer; this can seem like a passive process if we just show up for appointments to receive a procedure. I believe it’s important for people to take charge and to search for additional modalities to support the process of personal healing. There are resources available in the form of books, workshops, retreats, and professional practitioners. What works for one person may not work for another, but Workplace Wellness programs are a good place for people to experiment and find what works for them to meet their unique needs. It takes time and effort to create a path to healing, but the benefits are huge; people who choose to do the work will have a better outcome if they also receive genuine support in the workplace. Everyone can make a difference!

Discover How You Can Support Your Employees on Their Cancer Journeys