Cancer Support Community released their 2020 Cancer Experience Registry Report which provides valuable insights into the emotional, physical, financial and psychosocial concerns and needs of cancer patients and survivors. The report features key findings from their online survey, including data related to the impact of working after a cancer diagnosis. "A cancer diagnosis often raises huge issues surrounding work and career. People want to know if they can continue to work, or how it will affect their relationships. It is a very real and often overlooked area of concern", said an oncology social worker at Beth Isreal Deaconness Medical Center.

Other findings related to related to the work and cancer experience include:

• Nearly half (41%) of all cancer patients and survivors said they were moderately to very seriously concerned about changes or disruptions in work, school, or home life compared to 50% of metastatic breast cancer patients with those same concerns.
• More than a quarter (34%) of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia reported that their diagnosis somehwat to very much affects their ability to work.
• More than one out of three (38%) of multiple myeloma patients and survivors reported having forgone job opportunities and career advancement.

This report offers a unique snapshot of the first-hand experiences and perspectives of individuals touched by cancer. It also conveys the complexity of challenges faced by the cancer community, and therefore the importance of continuing to implement and provide supportive programs and initiatives to those balancing work, cancer and life.

To review the full report, click here: