Cancer and Careers helps more than 470,000 people each year — online, in print and in person — by providing valuable information and resources via expert advice, interactive tools and educational events. For more on our 2023 activities, see our End of Year Report.
Information
470K+
individuals access expert information, support and resources online, in print and in person annually.
58,426
publications were distributed in English & in Spanish in 2023.
Education
98%
of 2023 program participants said they can use what they learned in their day-to-day activities.
86%
of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 50 Cancer Hospitals use our resources and/or attend our educational events.
Support Services
2,251
job-hunting survivors have had their resumes reviewed free of charge since 2013.
$600K+
in emergency cash assistance has been distributed to 1,000 grantees from 49 states (plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and two U.S. Virgin Islands) since 2020.
Stories & Testimonials
This laptop is more than just a computer. It is an opportunity. It is hope. It is joy. It is proof that there are good people in the world willing to help others. It means that someone thought enough of me to invest in me. The news of my award came on a day when I was feeling low and it was like I had won the lottery! It means so much to me. It gave me another reason to keep pushing and to keep moving forward, to not give up. It’s more than just a laptop. Thank you so much!
— 2023 Technology Assistance Program Awardee
For those of you newer to Cancer and Careers — I cannot recommend ALL of their programs highly enough! Cancer was challenging. The impact of cancer on my career was unbelievably challenging. It’s definitely NOT that way for everyone! But, Cancer and Careers is a wonderful resource for prevention of issues at work, and intervention when there are health-related issues at work — and also when cancer has made us decide that perhaps we want to go in a new direction with our career.”
— 2021 West Coast Conference Attendee
Thank you so much for your continued efforts to provide the gold standard in support for cancer patients. Your compassion and dedication to quality care is beautifully reflected in the wonderful programs that you provide for those of us who really need them.”
— 2021 National Conference Attendee
Being chosen for this award is life-changing. I’m so tired of consuming the world through my smartphone. With a new laptop, I will have the capacity to work from home for the first time. Talk about life-changing! Trying to work on-site through the last two years with immune suppression was terrible — I’d sometimes have to choose between my financial survival and my personal safety. That’s a choice that no one should have to face. And with a new computer — especially one with high-level specs & functionality — I won’t have to face it again.”
— 2021 Technology Assistance Program Awardee
The mission of this organization is so powerful and puts the stigma of post-treatment weakness to rest. Cancer patients have the strongest minds, hearts and tenacity, all of which are great assets for employees to have. The resources provided about how to navigate the workforce while being a cancer patient are so helpful and encouraging.”
— 2020 Financial Assistance Grant Recipient
The information I’ve learned from [CAC’s Living and Working with Cancer Workbook] has helped me with all my life communications since my neurosurgery has left me with deficits. I now have the courage to speak up and ask for what I need to accomplish a task — and to my amazement, my supervisor has willingly listened to me and allowed for procedural changes so I can do the job in the way I need to with my ‘new normal.’ ”
— Brain Tumor Survivor
I was overwhelmed by the support and information offered [at the National Conference on Work & Cancer]. I cannot thank you enough. I told my husband when I got home, ‘Now I don’t feel like such a freak.’ I know that sounds harsh, but when you are alone dealing with this, people really cannot relate. Every group that I ever tried to attend was so negative and depressing I just couldn’t continue. I found this forum to be so uplifting and supportive.”
— Cancer Survivor and National Conference Attendee
Without the help of Cancer and Careers, I would not feel comfortable researching another career at this particular time of my life. They allow you to be a survivor and fight for what you want with a lot of resources available that you never would have had access to. I am truly grateful for their support.”
— Cancer Survivor and Resume Review Service Client
At the time of my skin cancer diagnosis, I was working part-time as a paralegal while simultaneously looking for a full-time job and being my mother’s caregiver. It would be an understatement to say I had a lot on my plate before the diagnosis. After cancer, I was completely overwhelmed. Since my diagnosis 10 years ago, I’ve not only battled innumerable health issues but also fought to get my professional life on track. Although navigating work and cancer is an ongoing challenge, CAC has made the path less daunting.
Discovering Cancer and Careers changed my life. When I attended their National Conference, it was the first time I was surrounded with other cancer survivors — I felt completely understood and supported. It was wonderful to get perspective on what others were experiencing and see my reflection in their experiences — to know I wasn’t alone. Attending the conference sessions and hearing experts speak about navigating your professional life after a cancer diagnosis provided a lot of food for thought.
After the National Conference, I attended CAC’s Job-Search Intensive. I spent a day with survivors who were eager to discuss obstacles, figure out effective job-search tools and learn some key strategies from the CAC team. I think all the attendees left at the end of the day with renewed hope, inspired by what we learned and exchanged during that program.
Over the past few years, Cancer and Careers staff has been an ongoing support system for me. Whether it’s been a phone call to go over interview tactics or an encouraging email, they have boosted my confidence as I tackle job-related challenges. I’ve also been able to refer others to CAC and pass along critical info I’ve learned over the years. To be in a position to “pay it forward” means I have made progress since I started this journey…and that is an amazing feeling.”
— Gail K., Cancer Survivor, 2016 National Conference Attendee & 2017 Job-Search Intensive Attendee
The Issue
More than 70% of cancer diagnoses are made in adults between the ages of 20 and 74 — i.e., “prime employment years.”
Understand the Issue