SINGAPORE – Two major cancer support organisations here are doing more to help cancer survivors return to work and keep their jobs.

The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is working on a new programme within the next two years for those aged between 16 and 45 who recover from their cancer diagnosis and hope to return to normal life.

It aims to help them navigate challenges such as finding a job, returning to work or coping with the financial strain because of lower employability.

The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) also has plans to expand its Return-To-Work programme for its patients, and create a new framework for companies to take steps to be more inclusive.

Launched in 2021, the Return-To-Work programme has helped more than 150 cancer survivors through vocational coaching, counselling, and guidance on communicating better with employers.

These initiatives come amid growing concerns about anxieties over going back to work and microaggressions survivors face in the workplace.

NCCS is also working with Sengkang General Hospital and support groups like SCS and 365 Cancer Prevention Society to explore initiatives such as job coaching.

SCS interviewed 120 cancer survivors in 2025 for an upcoming report on their experiences going back to work after recovery. The full report will be out in October.

It found that nearly half, or 45 per cent, of survivors were anxious about returning to work. This stemmed from feeling “useless” or less competent, anxiety over workloads and fear of workplace stress triggering a health relapse.

These feelings are higher among survivors who do not work in professional, managerial, executive and technical (PMET) jobs.

Non-PMET jobs are typically in sectors such as retail, manufacturing and accommodation, and could include positions like shop assistants, construction labourers and waitstaff.

Close to 90 per cent of cancer survivors say returning to work was beneficial to their recovery, the study found.

Head of SCS’ psychosocial services Mark Lin said work gives survivors purpose and helps them heal beyond the hospital. It also helps them to maintain a sense of identity beyond their illness and restore social connections.

In Singapore, one in four people may face cancer at some point in their lives, according to the Singapore Cancer Registry.

Yet, workplaces are often not fully equipped to provide the understanding, flexibility and support that employees living with or recovering from cancer truly need, Mr Lin said.

Ms Doris Lim, 59, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2019, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, she continued working from home in her role at a multinational corporation.

When her contract was not renewed in 2023, she scrambled to find a new job, and felt lost and pressured to land another job quickly.

After securing a job offer at a local company, she chose to be upfront about her cancer history.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to disclose that information, but I felt it was the right thing to do,” she said.

The company withdrew the offer after finding out about her condition.

“They didn’t provide a clear reason, but it was implied that concerns around my health and availability played a part,” she said.

“It was definitely discouraging.”

It took her half a year before getting another job offer at a consultancy firm, and she was worried that she would once again be turned away by her new employer. Thankfully, the company was supportive.

She left the firm after around a year to focus fully on her recovery.

In 2024, she joined SCS’ Return-To-Work programme, which helped her rebuild her confidence and learn how to manage her work-life balance.

“It gave me reassurance that I wasn’t alone, and that returning to work after cancer was possible with the right support, structure and mindset. It helped me reframe what success and productivity meant for me in this new phase of life.”

She later joined SCS in May as a patient care assistant, where she supports cancer patients.

Dr Eileen Poon, senior consultant at NCCS’ division of medical oncology, said that apart from treatment-related worries, many patients have concerns about job insecurity and rejoining the workforce.

“Patients may face difficulty looking for or returning to work due to stigmatisation, having to reskill after cancer or treatment that affected their ability to perform in their previously trained profession,” she said.

Many find themselves needing to face career shifts and this can lead to financial strain if they face joblessness or pay cuts, she added.

SCS’ current Return-To-Work programme provides survivors with one-on-one vocational coaching and counselling to explore new career goals, manage the psychological impact of returning to work, and develop strategies to have conversations with employers.

The programme also supports clients in reassessing their strengths, and preparing for job interviews or role transitions.

The organisation works with partners like Agape Connecting People, Michael Page Singapore, and Generation Singapore to provide job-matching opportunities.

SCS may also reach out to employers, with the patient’s consent, to recommend workplace adjustments for their employee.

Ms Josephine Ong, 55, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She was a lecturer at an institute of higher learning at the time.

She scheduled her mastectomy during the term break and returned to work the next term, but struggled to balance recovery with caring for her son and often felt fatigued. Ms Ong is a mother to twins, but one of them died in 2006 at two months old because of a heart issue.

“I knew that I couldn’t always take medical or hospitalisation leave, as my students would be impacted by my absence and the inconsistencies caused by a relief teacher.”

She left her job in 2019 to be a coach and corporate trainer, conducting leadership and team-building programmes for both companies and individuals.

But the move left her anxious about her finances and unsure if she could succeed as her own boss.

“One of my biggest worries now is whether I’ll be able to fulfil the projects I successfully pitch to my clients, especially if I fall ill again. How can I continue to satisfy my clients with my services? Furthermore, will my health hold up if I commit to more projects and jobs?”

Ms Ong now coaches other cancer survivors as part of SCS’ Return-To-Work programme.

How workplaces can help

Employers can better support cancer survivors by recognising their transferable skills and offering flexibility where possible, said Ms Ong. This could include remote work, flexible hours, and part-time or project-based roles.

Receiving understanding and some room for adjustments from the workplace is also important, as some survivors could face lasting side effects, such as difficulty standing for long periods or reduced hand function, she added.