Almost 39% of cancer patients are of working age, which in absolute numbers means that more than 110,000 working people each year face one of the most serious blows that life (and their families) deals and this figure will go up. as the average age of workers increases (in 10 years, the workforce will be in the 55 to 59 age group). Does cancer have consequences on your work life? 28% of patients have lost or left their job because of it. And it is the disease that has the highest prevalence of job loss since the risk of being unemployed is 34% higher in cancer survivors.
These are some of the data provided today by the Spanish Association against Cancer, in an event in which Queen Letizia and the vice president and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, participated. It has exposed the fear, anguish and uncertainties of these workers, who see their life and work careers “cut short”, as well as that of their families. In Spain there are more than 2.2 million people who have been diagnosed with cancer throughout their lives.
If facing this disease is hard, the economic problem that comes with it aggravates it even more. The 25% reduction in payroll for temporary disabilities, together with their long period due to the illness, means that many patients may find themselves in an economically vulnerable situation.
Cancer causes an economic cost to 41% of families of more than 10,000 euros during the illness. This can cause many families to be at risk of social exclusion, says Ramón Reyes, president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and the Association of European Cancer Leagues.
“It is in our hands to implement all possible measures so that people with cancer who want it can return to their jobs more easily, eliminating possible obstacles such as stigmatization or discrimination. Let’s ensure that people with cancer do not have to worry about their work, in addition to their illness,” says Reyes.
The increase in the incidence rate of cancer, on the one hand, and survival, on the other, poses another great challenge for the coming years, the AECC points out: the need to focus on the unmet needs of both patients and cancer survivors. For example, job loss and the increasingly complicated return to work are critical aspects for people with cancer.
Regarding the aspects that prevent immediate return to the job and normal functions, since pain, difficulties with concentration or mobility and fatigue make it difficult to carry out a work day. Long periods of inactivity are an inconvenience when it comes to resuming the work routine. In the case of permanent disability, patients face different situations, such as not being able to return to their usual job or not being able to work at any job, due to major consequences or chronic illness derived from cancer.
The need also arises to look for another profession, due to permanent disability. People who live this reality face long processes of resolving disabilities, which translates into a continuous conflict to be able to return to professional life.
Cancer is the most important social and health problem in Spain and the world. It is estimated that, worldwide, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will have cancer during their lifetime. The forecast for the year 2030 indicates that 21.6 million people around the world will be diagnosed with some type of cancer. According to the Association’s Cancer Observatory, in 2030, there would be 330,000 new cases in Spain alone, which means a diagnosis every 1.8 minutes.
The latest estimates of the global burden of cancer prepared by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) with data from 185 countries and 36 types of cancer, released today, predict more than 35 million new cases of cancer. cancer in the world in 2050, 77% more than the 20 million cases estimated for 2022, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
