For those who are navigating cancer, there is a clear opportunity and responsibility for employers to better support them and their families. ((Photo: Shutterstock) Nearly every one of us is connected to someone or is that someone who has heard the words no one should ever have to hear: You have cancer.
This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates 1,918,030 new cancer cases will be diagnosed – a sobering statistic. The pandemic has undoubtedly had impacts across every aspect of life, especially when it comes to preventive health and, more specifically, cancer screenings. Sadly, 9.5 million people have missed screenings throughout the pandemic according to the White House, and a recent study by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) reports that CT scans to detect cancer fell by 82% during the peak of COVID-19 with scans for initial workup, active disease, and surveillance all declining significantly.
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At John Hancock, we've been tracking these studies that show people are pushing off scans because of COVID-19. The frightening reality is that late-stage cancer and poorer outcomes for patients may occur as a result of these low screening numbers. At the same time, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of staying up to date on preventive care to maintain our baseline health and improve longevity. As a life insurer committed to helping customers live longer, healthier lives, this topic is especially top of mind for us. So much so that we offer life insurance designed to incentivize and reward policyholders for the small, proactive steps they take every day to manage their health.
We are disheartened by the fact that nearly two million Americans will ultimately be diagnosed with cancer this year and frustrated that there isn't more we can do to prevent those diagnoses. For those who are navigating cancer, there is a clear opportunity and responsibility for employers to better support them and their families. But what can they do? Here are a few ways we have engaged with providers to help ensure our own employees get the best care and treatment plan possible, and we encourage other employers to do the same.
Genotype-based cancer care, support, and expertise should be accessible and affordable for employees wherever they may be in their treatment journey. For example, we work with AccessHope to connect employees with United Health care medical coverage and help provide them with the most up-to-date cancer resources and support from leading cancer centers, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Northwestern Medicine and City of Hope.
Through AccessHope, patients' local doctors are connected with oncology specialists who are knowledgeable about the latest discoveries, innovations and treatments for specific types of cancer. The patients' local oncologists continue to determine their treatment plan while experts send recommendations, such as clinical trials and targeted therapies, and offer doctor-to-doctor discussions via AccessHope. All of our employees, regardless of where they live, now have access to best-in-class cancer care as well as efficient and reliable treatment plans based on their unique needs.
We also recognize that battling cancer can take a significant toll on a patients' mental wellbeing, with up to 25% of cancer survivors experiencing symptoms of depression and up to 45% experiencing anxiety, according to the National Cancer Institute. It is critical for employers to offer top-grade mental health benefits to help employees, and their families, cope with these difficult situations and any other challenges they may be facing.
It is equally important to ensure these benefits are inclusive – meeting employees where they are and accounting for their unique backgrounds and specific needs, especially underrepresented groups. We recently partnered with Included Health to provide health navigation, advocacy and support for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and their families, as well as Hurdle Health, which offers a curated network of multicultural clinicians so all our colleagues have the opportunity to get mental health care and mental-health applications from people who are culturally representative of themselves.
It's encouraging to see many employers across industries ramping up their mental health benefits, especially as COVID-19 has impacted our daily lives and made health and wellbeing top of mind. Now, I encourage my fellow human resources professionals to bolster cancer care benefits in a similar manner, in order to give all colleagues access to the latest and greatest resources in support of their health and wellbeing.
Julie Law is global head of talent management for John Hancock. This article is not an endorsement of any particular product, service or organization; nor is it intended to provide advice. It is intended to promote awareness and is for educational purposes only.
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