<World Cancer Day 2021 Facts>
1. Up to 10% of cancers are related to genetic mutation. Whereas, 27% of cancer deaths are from tobacco and alcohol use.
2. Up to 3.7 million lives – the equivalent number of girl guides and girl scouts in the United States, Canada and Mexico combined -could be saved each year by implementing prevention,
early detection and treatment strategies.
3. 9.6 million people die from cancer each year. That’s the equivalent population to all of Belarus. Or the whole of Hainan province. Or all of the city of Jakarta.
4. If all 48.3 million people who are alive within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis were to hold hands to form a human chain, they would circle the earth at least one time - and then some.
<Our advocacy goals for world cancer day 2021> 1. Creating Job Opportunities for Patients Recovering from Cancer-Write a Letter to Government and Businesses.
2. Launching advocacy campaigns for governments and businesses to provide more rehabilitation centers and financial aid for cancer patients
3. Giving a message of courage to patients suffering from depression while recovering from cancer-appealing to family and friends to join writing for cancer patients.
<Facts for our advocacy Campaign>
What is the greatest fear of cancer patients around the world? Some of the things they fear are:
1. Depression and loss of motivation for life while they are suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. This is because cancer patients have to undergo both medical and financial stress as well as psychological distress. 2. Cancer patients are suffering from a lot of financial pain because they have to pay for extremely expensive chemotherapy. Many cancer patients are in significant debt financially while undergoing treatment. According to The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the results of the most recent survey showed that 46% of patients have experienced a decline in their financial security and ability to pay for their care, and nearly 25% worry that they may lose their insurance as a result of the pandemic.
3. Cancer patients have to give up their jobs because they need treatment for a long time. Cancer patients, especially in low-income families, fall into depression because of the fear that they will suffer the financial pain if they are unemployed. High costs of cancer care are a serious cause of “financial toxicity.” 4. For cancer patients in poor countries, if they lose their jobs, their health insurance and benefits are reduced or lost. Researchers say 20 percent of cancer survivors in developed countries have “job lock,” where they stay in jobs mainly to keep their health insurance. In poor countries, more than 30% of cancer patients have "job locks”. For them, these fears are the cause of depression and suicide. Cancer patients need active help from governments to support them with short-term or long-term disability insurance for people with cancer
5. On the other hand, patients who are recovering from cancer are afraid of not finding a new job. Cancer patients are wondering whether their physical condition has completely recovered. And they have psychological fears about how well they can show their abilities in a new job, just like they did in the past. Most cancer patients do not have confidence in having a new job. They need more flexible working arrangements. Cancer patients need active help from governments and businesses to help them find new jobs.
6. Cancer patients who recover and find a new job are sometimes bullied by their bosses and colleagues. Patients recovering from cancer also need rest and adequate vacation time to go to the hospital for treatment. However, bosses and co-workers sometimes find it burdensome for companies to give these special considerations to cancer patients. The government or corporations must provide legal, institutional, and financial support so that patients recovering from cancer can have a comfortable working life without any discrimination, harassment, and bullying in the workplace
Written by Sangjin Choi
Executive Director of APPA
More details: https://www.worldcancerday.org/activity/campaign-creating-jobs-patients-recovering-cancer
References
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World Cancer Day 2021, Materials and Take Action, World Cancer Day, viewed 29 January 2021, <https://www.worldcancerday.org/take-action>.
Cancer Council 2020, A Guide for People with Cancer, Their Families, and Friends Cancer, Cancer Council.
Len Lichtenfeld, M.D. 2020, Losing Health Insurance Due to Job Interruption During Pandemic Could Jeopardize Cancer Care for Many Patients, CURE, Summer 2020, Volume 19, Issue 3.
Ann Pietrangelo 2020, 1 in 5 Cancer Survivors Stays at Their Job Due to Fears of Losing Health Insurance, Helathline, viewed 29 January 2021, <https://www.healthline.com/health-news/1-in-3-cancer-survivors-stays-at-their-job-due-to-fears-of-losing-health-insurance>.
Floortje Mols, Bianca Tomalin, Alison Pearce, Billingsley Kaambwa, and Bogda Koczwara 2020, Financial Toxicity and Employment Status in Cancer Survivors. A Systematic Literature Review, Supportive Care in Cancer (2020) 28:5693–5708.
Nicole Van Hoey, PharmD 2016, 3 Tips for Finding a New Job After Cancer, Cncer.Net, viewed 30 January 2021, <https://www.cancer.net/blog/2016-12/3-tips-finding-new-job-after-cancer>.
Marie Ennis-O’Connor 2019, Tips on Finding a New Job or Changing Career after Cancer Treatment, Patient Empowerment Network, viewed 29 January 2021, <https://powerfulpatients.org/2019/01/23/tips-on-finding-a-new-job-or-changing-career-after-cancer-treatment/>.
American Cancer Society, Working During Cancer Treatment, viewed 30 January 2021, <https://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding-and-paying-for-treatment/understanding-financial-and-legal-matters/working-during-and-after-treatment.html>.
American Cancer Society, Survivorship: During and After Treatment, viewed 29 January 2021, <https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-and-after-treatment.html>.
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