As cancer is becoming less of a taboo topic in the workplace, more patients and survivors are choosing to continue working during treatment and after they've overcome the disease.
A recent study by nonprofit organization Cancer and Careers found 80 percent of cancer patients and survivors said staying at work after diagnosis aids recovery.
The study polled 400 people diagnosed with cancer and employed full- or part-time. More than 60 percent reported taking no time off or a just a few days before returning to work after their diagnosis. Among the respondents seeking treatment, nearly three-quarters said employment gave them a sense of purpose and was a part of their identity.
The growing rate of cancer survivors and patients in the workplace is has spawned many questions among employers, as the disease is expected to cost them roughly $263 billion in healthcare costs and lost productivity in 2013 alone, according to the American Cancer Society.
"As a breast cancer survivor, I know there are so many unknowns and questions you have when you receive a cancer diagnosis." said Sonia Kashuk, board member at Cancer and Careers. "That's why it's so important for people going through the cancer journey to feel supported in every aspect of their lives, particularly when it comes to work."
