Category: Young Adults with Cancer

Return to Work after Cancer: Challenges and Needs for Young Adults

Returning to work after cancer presents significant challenges for young adults (18–40 years old) who wish to continue or reintegrate into their professional life. The study Needs Assessment: Young Adults Navigating Work & Cancer, conducted by Cancer & Careers in collaboration with the Andrea Argenio Foundation, explores the experiences of this group, highlighting key problems, needs, and preferences for workplace support.

The survey included 516 participants and was conducted online from December 2024 to February 2025. Participants were young adult cancer patients or survivors, and the study focused on return to work, the difficulties they face, necessary accommodations, and the types of support they find most helpful.

Key Findings

The study clearly identifies the multiple challenges young adults face during professional reintegration:

  • Balancing treatment and work emerged as the most common challenge.

  • About 50.8% reported physical limitations, and 37.8% cognitive difficulties affecting job performance. Younger participants (18–25) reported even higher challenges (~70.3% physical, ~56.8% cognitive).

  • Concerns about job security and career progression were significant: around 1 in 3 participants worried about their position or professional identity, while for ages 35–40, concern about job security reached 50.8%.

  • Participants expressed a need for workplace support, mainly through:

    • Flexible working hours (77.5%)

    • Remote work / working from home (62.2%)

    • Additional paid leave (50%)

    • Mental health support (45.2%)

Open-ended responses also highlighted the need for better employer education, support in job search and career development, as well as broader psychosocial support.

The Greek Context and the Need for Action

Despite the importance of this issue, Greece lacks systematic data on return to work after cancer, particularly for young adults. There are few studies or official statistics documenting experiences, challenges, or needs, creating a significant knowledge and policy gap.

In this context, raising awareness, providing reliable information, and connecting survivors to trusted resources are critical. Initiatives focusing on young adults with cancer help create a more supportive environment for returning to work, addressing both practical and psychosocial aspects.

European tools and collaborations, such as the MELODIC project, in which Kapa3 participates actively, are particularly valuable. MELODIC focuses on the psychological support of young adult cancer patients, highlighting the close link between mental health, quality of life, and professional functioning after cancer.

The Cancer & Careers study demonstrates that returning to work after cancer is not a straightforward process. Physical and cognitive limitations, concerns about job security, and the need for flexibility are daily challenges for many young adults. In Greece, the lack of data does not mean the problem is absent; rather, it underscores the need for more knowledge, targeted initiatives, and meaningful support.

Through information, networking, and participation in European initiatives, returning to work can become more realistic and sustainable for young adults who have experienced cancer.

Sources: Needs Assessment: Young Adults Navigating Work & Cancer

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is internationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to education, prevention, and support for everyone affected by the disease. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women worldwide, yet early diagnosis and advances in treatment have significantly improved both quality and length of life.

The event began in 1985 as a week-long awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, in partnership with Imperial Chemical Industries, a British company that made tamoxifen. The campaign eventually grew into a month-long event.

The core message of this month is simple but crucial: awareness saves lives. Regular mammograms, self-examinations, and timely medical advice when suspicious signs appear are the most powerful tools for prevention and early detection. International studies show that women who participate in screening programs are more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage, allowing for more effective and less invasive treatment.

However, October is not just about medical tests. It is a month that highlights the importance of psychosocial support and solidarity. Breast cancer affects not only the body but also the mind and spirit. Women – and men – facing this diagnosis need a supportive network of family, friends, healthcare professionals, and organizations to guide, encourage, and stand by them every step of the way.

The Kapa3 Cancer Guidance Center joins the international community in emphasizing the value of accurate information and equitable access to healthcare services. Through informative articles, prevention guides, and psychological support, our goal is to stand by every person in need, providing reliable knowledge and meaningful assistance.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is more than a campaign: it is a reminder that life can be won when prevention, education, and solidarity become part of our daily practice. October calls on all of us to raise our voices, promote screening, and embrace those fighting their own battles—because no one should face cancer alone.

Kapa3 participation in the MELODIC consortium meeting in Lisbon

We are delighted to announce that Kapa3 had the opportunity to take part in the recent MELODIC consortium meeting, which was held in Lisbon. Although our participation was online, it was in real time, and our team contributed actively to the discussions, which focused on the development of the training program for healthcare professionals and the design of the intervention study, both aiming to support the mental health of young adults living with cancer.

The MELODIC project, funded by the EU4HEALTH program with a total budget of €1.8 million, addresses a critical yet often overlooked issue: the mental health of young adults aged 18–35 living with cancer.

During the meeting, partners exchanged experiences and findings from European research and interviews with healthcare professionals, families, and young adults with cancer. These insights strengthened collaboration and the formulation of strategies for timely psychosocial support.

Next spring, the project will launch the intervention phase, focusing on social prescribing and the use of green and blue spaces—harnessing the power of nature and community to promote well-being.

Kapa3 continues to work closely with its European partners to ensure a meaningful impact on the lives of young adults facing cancer.

Read more on the Melodic project here

Melodic, A New European Project Supporting the Mental Health of Young Adults with Cancer

At Kapa3, we know that healing goes far beyond the body. A cancer diagnosis in young
adulthood — just as life is beginning to unfold — often leaves deep emotional marks. That’s
why we’re proud to participate in MELODIC, a new European initiative dedicated to
supporting the mental health of young adults (18–30) living with or after cancer.

The project Melodic brings together 13 partners from 6 European countries, including patient organizations, universities, and healthcare experts. Coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland), MELODIC aims to co-design innovative digital tools, peer
support models, and educational workshops that reflect the actual needs and voices of
young people affected by cancer.

Kapa3 joined the project in 2024, and our role is to bring Greek patients’ perspectives to
the table while also ensuring that everything we co-create reaches the people who need it
most — especially here in Greece.

We believe that mental well-being is not a luxury, but a vital part of cancer care. Over the next two years, we’ll be working closely with survivors, caregivers, professionals, and youth groups to build safe spaces for expression, support, and growth.

Want to learn more? Visit our website and check out the new MELODIC subpage to see how
we’re working to make a difference — and how you can get involved.

Together, we can make mental health care more humane, inclusive, and empowering.
Because no one should face cancer — or life after it — alone.

Read more on Melodic project: Melodic Project Mental Health on YAC