Cancer affects people in many ways; physically, cognitively, emotionally, socially, financially. Even after treatments have been successful and ended the effects of cancer can remain for some time. These effects can impact work abilities and attendance. Having line managers and human resources aware of these effects and able to react appropriately will assist to keep work impacts contained. Their ability to do this will be influenced by the internal workplaces policies associated with attendance, sickness absence and disability.
This is a summary about cancer and work not including work causes of cancer. Further details about general cancer issues can be found in the following link:
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/organising/work-and-cancer/if-youre-an-employer
And for cancer causing work agents the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a necessary starting place:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/cancer/index.htm
Working with cancer
Remaining in work whilst having cancer treatment may be a possibility and something that many employees aim to try. It can assist coping with cancer as the workplace and being in work can reduce the effect of some of the issues. Being absent from work can bring a sense of social isolation and lead to days that are unstructured, lacking in a purpose; affecting mental health and ability to cope with the cancer symptoms, treatment side effects and of course, being in work will bring income.
Equality Act and Cancer
The Equality Act automatically applies on diagnosis of cancer; there is no need to consider the effect of limitations on day to day activities without treatment and the length of time the limitations have occurred or likely to occur. The Equality Act demands that where it applies the employer has a greater responsibility to consider adjustments and decide if they are reasonable.
What is cancer?
Cancer is where cells of the body start to grow abnormally. The cells multiply and result in a lump or tumour. The cells from this tumour may progress to being able to enter the blood stream or lymph system and move to other parts of the body; liver, bones, spine etc. There are different types of tumours; malignant which can move to other parts of the body and benign which do not have this capacity. When a cancer has moved to another part of the body it is called a secondary cancer or metastases. The primary cancer is where it originates. The 4 most common cancers in the UK are breast, lung, prostate and bowel. 40% of the population will have cancer in their life time and cancer becomes more common with age.
Cancer treatments
A specialist cancer doctor is called an oncologist. The oncologist will lead a team of clinicians in the care and treatment of an individual. Other clinicians who may be involved are specialist cancer nurses, MacMillan Nurses, non-specialist nurses, physiotherapist, psychologist, pain specialists, dieticians. Non-clinical professionals may also be involved such as social workers.
Treatments for cancer are likely to be a combination of surgery, chemotherapy (drug treatment) and/or radiotherapy. Treatment programmes are individual based, according to the type of cancer, location, grade or classification.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be given as an injection, infusion or drip, tablet, as a cream on the skin. Administration is usually in hospital but could be at home. There are breaks of a few weeks between each administration of treatment. This and the treatment is called the treatment cycle. The individual will have a number of treatment cycles.
Chemotherapy developments now mean that many people can carry on with some of the usual day to day activities as side effects are less frequent and severe. However, individual reactions can vary greatly. Further medication can be used to reduce side effects.
Some side effects include:
- Nausea and sickness
- Fatigue which affects concentration and memory.
- Hair loss and other physical changes
- Increased risk of acquiring infections
Radiotherapy
People have radiotherapy at the hospital as an outpatient over sequential days. The administration of radiotherapy is very quick. The side effects can last for many weeks/months after treatment has stopped and tend to be isolated to the area being treated:
- Fatigue
- Skin sensitivity
- Nausea if treatment area is near the brain or stomach
- Hair loss to of the area being treated
- Sore mouth causing eating and drinking issues
Part 2 of this blog will be continued in next weeks release on Friday 9th November 2018. This will cover Emotional Effects and Adjustments associated with cancer in the workplace.
