Early Detection of Cancer in the Workplace

Some cancer facts to consider:

• Cancer is the leading health issue in Ontario
• 40% of Ontarians will develop cancer in their lifetime and close to half will die from it
• 1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime
• Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women worldwide
• Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer for both men and women
• Over half of all cancer cases can be prevented
• Cancer screening can detect the disease early and increase the rate of survival

Research shows that two strategies can reduce the risk of developing cancer:

• Make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce your risk. Eat a healthy diet, be physically active, be smoke-free, maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol use and reduce your exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds.
• Participate in early detection and cancer screening programs. Screening identifies a growth or cancer before symptoms occur, making treatment easier and more effective. Then, if treatment is necessary, it can start early and is likely to be a more effective cure.

Company Benefits Associated with Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Improved overall health of employees
• Decreased absenteeism
• Early treatment and better prognosis of disease
• Reduced cost to benefit plans

Building a Successful Program in Your Workplace

A comprehensive workplace program needs to include components from the 4 health promotion strategies to be successful and sustainable. Explore the Cancer Prevention and Screening health promotion strategies. Then develop an action plan incorporating the strategies that fit your goals and objectives.

The four health promotion strategies are:

1. Awareness Building
2. Education and Skill Building 
3. Environmental Supports
4. Policy and Guideline Development

Awareness Building

Increasing awareness of prevention and screening of cancer in a workplace helps to increase the overall health of all. This can be achieved through simple items such as payroll inserts, displays, newsletters or e-mail messages that can increase awareness around this topic area.

Printed Materials
Canadian Cancer Society
Screening Cards/Bookmarks
Posters

Workplace Toolkit
Promoting cancer screening in the Workplace

Display Banners
Cancer Prevention
Screening Saves Lives
Colorectal Cancer Awareness

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Education and Skill Building

After employees have had some awareness of the prevention and screening of cancer, it may be time to provide education.

Consider:

• Organizing a workshop related to cancer prevention and screening
• Providing ongoing programming with newsletters or emails
• Offering specific messages during the months of March (colorectal cancer awareness), April (Cancer Awareness month) and October (Breast Cancer awareness month and Cervical Cancer awareness week)
• Using quizzes or activities to reinforce the messages throughout the year

Toolkit
Promoting Cancer Screening in the Workplace is a workplace tool kit to be used by Occupational Health Nurses or Workplace Wellness Coordinators. The tool kit helps plan for Cancer Awareness Months (March, April and October) and promote cancer prevention and early detection throughout the year

Workshops
One hour workshops to groups of 10 or more on the topics of:

• Breast health
• Cervical health
• Colorectal health
• Screening Saves Lives – Cancer Prevention & Screening – speaks to all of the above cancers

Note: Workshops can be customized for workplaces based on consultation with the EDC team.

Jeopardy game- a fun way to get the cancer prevention messaging across

Printed Resources
Printed educational resources including fact sheets, brochures, bookmarks and posters:

• Breast Health - breast cancer, breast cancer prevention, breast cancer screening, mammograms (OBSP) and breast density
• Cervical health - Pap tests, Pap test results, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), HPV vaccine
• Colorectal Health - Colorectal screening, colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer prevention
• General Cancer screening - Screening guideline fact sheet and bookmark, screening record cards, early detection and screening facts for men and women
• Some materials are also available in Chinese, French, Italian, German, Dutch and some South Asian languages upon request

Displays

• Interactive manned or unmanned displays with banner and printed educational materials including:
  • Early detection and screening of cancer
  • Cancer prevention though nutrition, active living and other healthy lifestyle choices
  • Colorectal Awareness
• Quiz Board display

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Environmental Support

A work environment that supports cancer prevention and screening can lead to overall health to employees. Many activities can support this environment.

Cancer prevention options:

• Healthy eating options on site or built into social activities
• (Weight Watchers) Healthy Eating program at work program
• Access to physical activity or stress reducing activities on site (walking, yoga, dancing, stretching, bike racks, shower facilities/change rooms)

Cancer screening options:

• Assisting employees to attend screening
• Reminders to staff of screening options and scheduling
  

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Policy and Guideline Development

It is important to continue to look to the future in regards to sustainability of your cancer prevention and screening comprehensive workplace program. Providing a framework will impact future decisions and direction within your company. A policy outlines general goals, objectives and actions a company will aim to achieve.

Examples of policies:

• Access to flexible hours to allow employees time to attend screening
• Wellness days allotted to employees to schedule screening and medical appointments

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Links

Workplace Resources

Additional Resources on Cancer Prevention

Remember you can always consult with York Region's Workplace Wellness Team about needs assessments, action plans, resources and evaluations. We want to help you achieve a healthier, active workplace.

Back to main Health Topics page for information on other topics

For more information, please contact
York Region Health Connection at 1 800 361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933