WORK AND CANCER REPORT

That this House welcomes the report Work and Cancer published by CancerBACUP; is pleased that the report finds that the majority of employers are supportive of employees with cancer; but is concerned that nearly a third of cancer patients do not return to work after cancer treatment, that more than a third said their career prospects had deteriorated as a result of cancer and that one in four respondents feared disclosing their cancer to a new employer; is further concerned that less than half of respondents had been offered flexible or alternative working arrangements or work adjustment policies by their employer and that over half had not been advised by their cancer doctor about how their cancer treatment would affect their ability to work; notes that the costs of the withdrawal of cancer patients from the labour market are substantial; not only in financial terms to employers and Government, but also to the individual's psychological well-being; and calls upon Government to ensure that employers are made aware of their obligations under existing and future legislation towards people living and working with cancer to ensure that health professionals understand the impact of cancer on work and provide information on managing in the workplace during and following different treatments to all cancer patients or working age; and to ensure that all people diagnosed with cancer are protected by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.