One in five people who return to work after cancer face discrimination

Macmillan Cancer Support research

clock • 3 min read

An estimated 20,000 of those who are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK will face discrimination in their workplace, according to new research released by Macmillan Cancer Support and YouGov at the World Cancer Congress in Paris.

The research, which explores the impact of cancer on working life, found that nearly a fifth of people (18%) who return to work after being diagnosed with cancer say they faced discrimination from their employer or colleagues.  More than a third (35%) report other negative experiences, such as feeling guilty for having to take time off for medical appointments and a loss of confidence in their ability to do their job. Some 1 in 7 (15%) people said they returned to work ‘before they felt ready.' And 14% of people give up work altogether or are made redundant as a result of their diagno...

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