A campaign was being launched today to support patients with advanced breast cancer who would like to, or need to, return to work.
The Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance is calling on policy-makers at the European Union Parliament to make legislative changes to improve conditions for these patients.
Chair of the Alliance, Dr Fatima Cardoso, says: "Most people with breast cancer are in the most economically productive years of their lives: their 40s, 50s and 60s. Not being able to work is bad for them, not only financially, but also emotionally and psychologically, and it is also bad for society."
The campaigners point out that different governments approach the issue in different ways, with only some having legislation to make it unlawful for employers to discriminate against people with cancer.
Speaking at the event, Barbara Wilson, of the charity Working with Cancer in the UK, said: "Even for people who are living with the long-term side effects of their treatment, it’s perfectly possible for them to continue to work if there are proper strategies in place to support them. This is not about making people return to work, but if someone wants to return, it can, in most cases be managed successfully.
"In order to achieve this, employers need to understand cancer, they need to communicate effectively with employees affected by cancer, and they need to implement flexible working policies during and after treatment, including providing individualised support for those that need it in the form of one-to-one coaching."
Professor Richard Sullivan of King’s College London, UK, added that there are costs to patients, employers and society through loss of productivity when people living with breast cancer find it difficult or impossible to work.
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