"Employers need to ask themselves how they can best support staff during a cancer diagnosis."
- Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD
In RedArc’s experience, cancer patients and their loved ones often need access to a wide range of different types of support, ranging from practical help to advice on managing side effects or medical equipment for the home.
“There are several important aspects in offering cancer care. It’s, of course, crucial to have a wide range of options available, but when there’s a wide range, such as in a menu approach, decisions must be made about which type of support, therapy, or counselling is going to be the most effective,” explained Christine Husbands, Commercial Director at RedArc.
She believes if individuals are left to self-select, it can be “very daunting and there can be a risk of sub-optimal choices being made; it’s invaluable for them to have a guiding hand throughout the whole support process.”
Notably, RedArc has revealed it received 33% more new cancer cases than the next most supported condition, mental health, between 2020-24. In 2024 alone, the added value service provider received more than two new cancer cases for every mental health case.
Christine stressed that “Cancer support works best when it treats the person as a whole – considering the mental and social factors that affect a person, as well as the disease itself. Support that recognises this will have the most impact. We can advocate this, not just as an idealistic notion, but having provided holistic support to thousands of people, we know that practical advice and emotional support are every bit as important as financial assistance, if not more so.”
In terms of cancer support in the workplace, Reframe Cancer reports that 71% of employees working whilst having cancer said they didn’t feel Human Resources (HR) was sufficiently prepared to help them through their treatment. 35% felt isolated at work during their cancer journey.
Furthermore, the Group Risk Development (GRiD) found seven in ten (69%) employers are concerned about the potential financial impact cancer could have on organisational costs and 54% have recently noticed an increase in employees affected by cancer in the workplace.
“No matter how long an employee has had their worries or been going through tests, being given a formal cancer diagnosis is completely blindsiding. Therefore, employee cancer support needs to be both flexible and comprehensive to help the individual, and to also support their employer in helping staff, acting sensitively and making appropriate adjustments,” concluded Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD.
