Cancer is touching more lives than ever before. Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. adults will develop cancer during their lifetime,¹ and rising rates of early onset cancer (under 50 years old)² mean more adults will face a diagnosis during the prime of their lives – and careers.
As cancer becomes a more common reality for working-age adults, it’s important to understand how a diagnosis affects not only health but also daily life and work. As more employees work through treatment or return after cancer, employers have an increasingly meaningful role in supporting their well-being.
Many employers have made real progress in promoting cancer prevention and early detection. However, new insights from The Cigna Group³ show that people who are already living with cancer – or recovering from it – often need even more support to stay on top of their health. Some fall behind on important preventive screenings and mental health care, and many don’t realize their employer offers resources that could help them manage their treatment and overall health.
Cancer patients and missed preventive care: Gaps in essential screenings
A cancer diagnosis can quickly turn life upside down. Suddenly, an already busy life is filled with medical appointments, treatment schedules, financial decisions, and physical and emotional side effects. With so much to manage, it’s understandable that other aspects of a cancer patient’s health and well-being slip through the cracks.
Our research shows that while working-age adults with a history of cancer tend to stay on top of their annual physical exams (80% have had one in the past year), they are more likely to neglect other regular screenings.
A significant mental health gap for employees living with cancer
There is a strong connection between mental and physical health, and often when someone struggles with their mental health or lives with chronic stress, their overall health and well-being suffer.
For cancer patients, mental health challenges can have more significant repercussions, but many do not receive the mental health care they need.³ Addressing the mental health care gap for employees living with cancer is essential. When cancer patients receive mental health treatment, it can improve patient outcomes, quality of life, and deliver meaningful cost savings.⁴
Actions to improve support for employees facing cancer
At a time when cancer places extraordinary demands on employees and their families, employers can make a measurable difference by offering clear, compassionate support that helps people stay healthier and more connected to care.
1. Emphasize preventive care and cancer screenings and address common barriers:
• Clarify preventive care benefits. Make it easy for employees to understand what’s covered and why preventive visits should matter to them.
• Promote screening guidelines. Regularly share age-appropriate screening recommendations and encourage employees to keep up with routine checkups. Offer time off for preventive visits and consider incentives to increase follow-through.
2. Strengthen mental health benefits, and actively encourage use:
• Expand mental health support. Supplement counseling and medication coverage with wellness programs, employee assistance programs (EAPs), and digital mental health tools.
• Drive awareness and utilization. Communicate available resources frequently and address barriers by highlighting virtual care options and case managers who can help connect employees with the right support.
3. Offer comprehensive cancer care – and ensure employees know what exists:
• Promote end-to-end cancer support. Highlight financial benefits, navigation services, logistical support (such as childcare or meal delivery services), return-to-work assistance, and caregiver resources.
• Leverage awareness moments. Use cancer awareness days and months throughout the year to remind employees of the programs available and how to access them.
For more details on The Cigna Group’s research, please read the full story at: https://newsroom.cigna.com/addressing-the-unmet-needs-of-employees-with-cancer
