Welcome to Working With Cancer
Cancer can affect every part of life. Whether you are living with cancer, caring for someone with cancer, returning to work after treatment, or supporting someone in your organisation, knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming
Work can play an important role in helping people affected by cancer maintain a sense of normality, wellbeing and financial independence. At the same time, navigating cancer alongside work can bring real challenges for employees and carers, from balancing appointments and treatment to managing uncertainty and emotional strain. Employers and managers may also be unsure what to say, what support to offer and when, and how to respond with confidence and care.
Working With Cancer® is here to help bridge the gap between cancer and work, with compassionate, practical support grounded in professional expertise and lived experience.
Who We Support
- Employers, HR teams and line managers who want to support staff affected by cancer with confidence, empathy and care
- Employees living with cancer who want support to manage work during or after treatment
- Carers balancing work with caring responsibilities
How We Help
Our services include:
- Cancer coaching — confidential, one-to-one support for people affected by cancer and carers, delivered by qualified coaches with lived experience of cancer
- Training — practical, empathetic training for managers, HR teams and professionals, helping them support people affected by cancer at work
- Policy and consultancy support — expert guidance to help organisations develop cancer-friendly policies, support structures and good practice
Every coach, trainer and advisor brings professional expertise alongside lived experience of cancer, either through their own diagnosis or through caring for someone with cancer. This gives them an authentic understanding of the practical realities and emotional challenges of navigating work, cancer and caring responsibilities.
As a non-profit social enterprise, all profits are reinvested to provide free coaching for people who cannot afford it.
To understand more about our coaching, training, consultancy and policy support, visit our What We Do page.
Latest Research
Our research studies undertaken in 2022 and 2024, in partnership with the Institute for Employment Studies, found that many cancer survivors were not receiving timely advice and guidance from their managers and HR teams and that many HR managers feel ill-equipped to support others to navigate cancer and long-term health conditions in the workplace. Our 2024 report highlights the need for clearer cancer policies, better training for HR and line managers, and stronger support for employees affected by cancer.
Read the full reports here
Find the Right Support
Whether you are supporting someone at work, managing cancer yourself, or caring for someone close to you, we can help:
- Employers: Coaching, training, consultancy and policy support for organisations
- Employees: Cancer coaching for people living with cancer and managing work
- Carers: Cancer coaching for people balancing work with caring responsibilities
To find out more about how Working With Cancer can support you, please get in touch.
You may also find helpful to read our 8 Top Tips for Managing Work and Cancer
And do look at New research we launched in autumn 2024 which reveals that many HR managers are ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of cancer and long-term health issues in the workplace. Working With Cancer’s report which was produced in conjunction with the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) shows that although many organisations are demonstrating areas of good practice, too many still do not take into account the specific needs of the increasing number of employees working with cancer. Too many organisations do not yet provide adequate information, training and support to their HR and line management teams. This new report calls for organisations to develop specific cancer policies, provide training for HR and line managers and review current employee benefits to better support employees with long-term health conditions.
Put our lived experience to work so you, or your team, can better work with cancer
There are around 900,000 people of working age living with cancer in the UK. This number is expected to increase to 1,150,00 by 2030. For those affected by cancer, work is important. A job can restore a sense of normality and wellbeing as well contributing to financial independence, but many cancer survivors find returning to work a struggle as they deal with cancer’s short- or longer-term side effects.
A survey in 2012 showed that although over 80% of those who were working when diagnosed with cancer thought it important to continue working, 47% had to give up work or change their roles as a result of their diagnosis. Another survey in 2016 showed that 20% faced discrimination and 35% had negative experiences.
For working carers, things can be just as difficult. Few employers have a carers’ policy and many carers are hesitant to ask for time off work in case it affects their employment prospects.
Employers often find it tough too – knowing the right thing to say and when, and what to do. Getting it right can significantly enhance an employer’s reputation.
