Create environment in which cancer patients can work, get treatment
THE FOLLOWING editorial appeared in Friday’s Yomiuri Shimbun:
It was an appallingly inappropriate remark, lacking understanding of and consideration for cancer patients.
“They don’t have to work.” Hideo Onishi, a House of Representatives member of the Liberal Democratic Party, fired off this comment at an LDP divisional meeting regarding cancer patients being tormented by passive smoking in the workplace.
Onishi later apologised and tried to explain his intention was to say “cancer patients don’t have to force themselves to work in places where smoking is allowed.” But he did not retract his words. Organisations supporting patients have quite rightly berated Onishi for comments they say made them feel angry and sad.
Each year, about one million people in Japan are diagnosed with cancer. One-third of them are aged 20 to 64 - the workingage generation.
Advances in medical treatment have enabled the survival rate five years after being diagnosed with cancer to improve to more than 60 per cent. Although a growing number of cancer patients have the desire and ability to work, conditions concerning their employment remain severe.
One in three people working at a company when they are diagnosed with cancer lose their job, either by resigning voluntarily or being dismissed. The reasons given by many of these people are, “I will inconvenience my workplace,” or, “I’m not confident I can work while getting treatment.” Some cancer patients do not tell their workplace about their health problems out of fear of being demoted or forced to resign.
In an opinion poll conducted by the Cabinet Office, more
For patients of the workingage generation, a job can provide some meaning to their life and encourage them with their treatment. In some cases, these patients have no option but to work to pay for the ongoing and expensive treatment costs.
than 60 per cent of respondents said it is difficult to hold down a job while undergoing cancer treatment. With reemployment difficult after leaving a job, the fact is cancer patients have very limited choices when it comes to workplaces.
For patients of the workingage generation, a job can provide some meaning to their life and encourage them with their treatment. In some cases, these patients have no option but to work to pay for the ongoing and expensive treatment costs.
It is possible for a person diagnosed with cancer to keep working provided suitable support measures are in place. The government should speed up efforts to spread and raise awareness about correct knowledge, and create an environment in which cancer patients can work with peace of mind.
The revised Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs that started from fiscal 2012 touted employment support for cancer patients as a priority policy.
The revised Cancer Control Law that came into force in December 2016 obligates companies to make efforts to consider the continued employment of cancer patients. Enabling people to work while undergoing treatment also is a pillar of the government’s action plan for work style reform. — WP-Bloomberg