Research

Cancer and Careers - December 2018

Our annual online survey, conducted between September 21 and October 22, 2018 by The Harris Poll, was designed to better understand the experience of 882 cancer patients and survivors who are either employed or unemployed but looking for work.

Ryan Murphy - March 2018

While many employers want to support their employees with cancer, many are unsure of the most effective ways of offering support when it comes to returning to work after a diagnosis. Best practices were offered at the Employers Cancer Care Summit in February.

Liam Davenport - March 2018

With the increase of survivorship among individuals with cancer, economic and financial problems have shown they are common obstacles. Challenges including accessing jobs, mortgages, loans and insurance increase for those who declare they have had cancer.

Cancer and Careers - October 2017

The second infographic from our 2017 survey results sheds light on some interesting differences in women and men's behaviors and experiences when it comes to issues around work and cancer.

Cancer and Careers - June 2017

2017 marks the 5th year our national survey has been conducted to better understand the experience of cancer patients and survivors in the workplace. The 2017 survey highlights many issues that we hear about everyday—from disclosure to accessing support to looking for a new job—but this year we also put more focus on healthcare.

Economist Intelligence Unit - February 2017

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has published a report on Cancer in the Workplace to assess the challenges that cancer poses for employers, examine workplace policies and practices to address the needs of those affected by the disease, and to explore possible measures to strengthen workplace support.

Cancer and Careers - August 2016

Social media has changed the rules of privacy for almost everyone. But for people diagnosed with cancer, social media use comes with the additional complications of online disclosure, which can have unintended consequences. This year’s Cancer and Careers’ survey polled survivors on their experiences with disclosing their cancer online.

Jason Hoffman - November 2015

Cancer survivors tend to face challenges to workplace accommodations such as fear of requesting accommodations and difficulty with accommodating jobs, a new study has shown.

Zhiyuan Zheng, K., et. al. - November 2015

The American Cancer Society recently published a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that found that colorectal, breast and prostate cancer experience more economic burden than individuals without cancer.

Kathryn Doyle - October 2015

New research led by Anna Zajacova of the University of Wyoming, found that the average U.S. adult diagnosed with cancer will miss five weeks of work in the first year and see a total family income decline by 20 percent. The article cited human resources departments and Cancer and Careers as resources for cancer patients to navigate work challenges.

Cancer and Careers - September 2015

In the spring of 2015, Cancer and Careers and Harris Interactive collaborated to design and field a survey to better understand the attitudes and behaviors of U.S. cancer survivors who worked during treatment, as well as unemployed cancer survivors and patients currently looking for work. The key findings and press release are available here.

Raque-Bogdan TL, Hoffman MA, Ginter AC, Piontkowski S, Schexnayder K, White R. - March 2015

The Journal of Counseling Psychology released the findings of a study exploring the work lives and career development of young breast cancer survivors. The study found that young breast cancer survivors view their experience as contributing to an increased desire for work to provide meaning, financial security and insurance.

WSB Online - January 2015

The website Workplace Savings and Benefits published an article on the findings of a survey that was conducted to learn more about cancer survivors’ experience on the job, including whether they feel pressure to return to work immediately following treatment.

Kate O’Rourke - January 2015

Clinical Oncology News reported on a study presented at the inaugural Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium, which examined the financial and work challenges cancer patients often face.

Elaine Schattner - November 2014

Forbes reported on the findings of two new studies looking at the relationships between employment, finance and cancer.

Robert Preidt - October 2014

The results of a survey presented at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that "One-third of cancer survivors in the United States say they have experienced money or work problems due to cancer care, while even many cancer patients who have insurance say they have had to change their lifestyle and medical care".

CBC News - September 2014

A recent report from the Canadian federal agency Statistics Canada examined cancer survivors' job prospects and earnings, reports CBC News. According to the report, on average, survivors in Canada earn $5,079 (12.1%) less than counterparts who were never diagnosed with the disease.

Theo Merz - September 2014

The Telegraph reports on a new study that indicates many men try to hold off telling their employer about their cancer diagnosis for as long as possible, and some choose never to disclose their diagnosis at work.

Phyllis Korkki - August 2014

A recent article in the New York Times discussed the findings of a study by the NIH and CDC on how more flexibility in the workplace impacts the stress of work-life balance. Flexibility at work is an important topic for many cancer patients and survivors who need more flexible work options during treatment or after to manage ongoing side effects.

Brigid Schulte - August 2014

The Washington Post published an article online about recent research finding that men benefit more from flexible work options than women. This has implications for many cancer patients and survivors who need more flexible work options post treatment.

Allison Bray - July 2014

A new study, published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship by researchers at the National Cancer Registry found that cancer patients often return to work early due to factors such as fear of being fired and not enough paid sick leave. The Irish Independent reported on the studies findings and impact.

Samantha Goodwin - June 2014

Cancer survivors often face financial crises due to growing medical costs, missed work, and reduced productivity, according to a new CDC report.

Cancer and Careers - June 2014

In the fall of 2013, Cancer and Careers and Harris Interactive collaborated to design and field a study of unemployed people who had been diagnosed with cancer. The survey's press release and key findings are now available.

Kathryn Doyle - May 2014

Reuters Health reports that Belgian researchers have found more evidence of the impact that chemotherapy can have on cognitive processes, often referred to as "chemo brain".

Lauren Weber - May 2014

The Wall Street Journal's At Work blog reports on a new study from the University of Minnesota that found that employees with control over their work hours felt they had better work-life balance. While these findings aren't shocking, they are significant as many companies are looking into ways to help their employees juggle hectic lives.