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:
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Balancing treatment and work emerged as the most common challenge.
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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).
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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%.
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Participants expressed a need for workplace support, mainly through:
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Flexible working hours (77.5%)
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Remote work / working from home (62.2%)
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Additional paid leave (50%)
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Mental health support (45.2%)
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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
