For the millions of
Despite benefit managers'
"There's been a groundswell of interest and focus on this topic amongst benefit leaders," Savello says. "There are conversations happening that were not happening [before] about this being a very unique type of clinical situation and population that needs a very different type of support."
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A growing issue in the workplace
A person is considered a cancer survivor from the time they are diagnosed through the rest of their life. Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows there were 18.1 million cancer survivors in the U.S. as of 2022, and that number is expected to reach 26 million by 2040. The number of working-age survivors will also go up, since the number of people being diagnosed before age 50 is growing, according to the American Cancer Society.
As of now, though, there are startlingly few resources for this group of survivors. After the ceremonial bell-ringing that traditionally follows the end of treatment, they often follow up with their primary care physician rather than a specialist trained in managing all that goes into post-cancer care, Savello says.
"[For] this working-age population, there really has not been a strong discipline, apart from a couple of cancer centers across the country, on what the survivorship guideline protocol actually looks like," she says. "It's a huge gap clinically."
Color Health specializes in full-spectrum cancer care, and partners with employers to provide education, early screening access, care advocates, clinical expertise and emotional support, including transitioning back to work. They also help survivors lay out medical-related plans for the future, including how to handle a weakened immune system and what fertility may look like moving forward, Savello says. Whether they work with a third party or not, benefit managers can take a proactive approach to making sure employees feel heard and have the best chance possible to balance work and recovery.
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Addressing non-clinical needs
There is a long list of non-clinical needs for working cancer survivors, including potential change of job role, scheduling changes to accommodate medical appointments and treatment side effects such as fatigue or stomach issues, says Savello.
Financial struggles can play a large role at this stage as well, and is an area where employers can also make an impact, she says. Depending on the type of cancer and one's insurance coverage, patients can end up with bills in the thousands, with some cancers costing into the hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time treatment concludes, according to the National Cancer Institute.
"Food security, rent payments, transportation and child care costs — there's a financial burden of treatment that comes into play," Savello says. Universal financial wellness benefits such as emergency savings accounts, health savings accounts and supplemental health coverage such as hospital indemnity insurance can all help offset costs, and employers who offer things like child care benefits, commuting stipends, and fertility and legal benefits can help employees save much-needed money.
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How survivors relate to their coworkers and managers is another important part of transitioning back to work, Savello says. Color Health offers manager training programs to help leaders talk with survivors as they return to work, helping to break down potential barriers around communication.
"It's hard to talk about when you return from your disease — what happened to you, treatment, what you need next," says Savello. "Being able to have conversations with managers and colleagues, having them feel comfortable talking with you about those things and feeling supported is another big area for consideration."
Also connected are mental health and caregiver support, both for survivors and their loved ones, notes Savello. From those who have been caring for a loved one with cancer to those taking back parenting responsibilities once their health allows it, and those just trying to picture what their future looks like, all can benefit from additional levels of expert encouragement and guidance.
Support in areas like those offered through Color Health, employee resource groups and mental health and wellness offerings are all worth mentioning to survivors and their loved ones in the workforce. Savello emphasizes the importance of setting up multiple ERGs or support groups to meet people where they are in their cancer journey. Benefit managers can learn more about how to support survivors through free resources such as the American Cancer Society and CancerCare. First and foremost, survivors want to be seen and heard, so the more benefit managers do to build a strong network of support, the better the outcome will be.
"Each case winds up being very unique, but the common thread again is acknowledgement," Savello says. "Don't ignore reality. Don't ignore the situation. It's similar to how you would treat a friend."
