Education

Leadership Coaching for Women Facing Cancer

Professional women face unique challenges when diagnosed with cancer. Cancer affects a significant portion of the population, with breast cancer being the most common among women worldwide.

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2.3 Million
The number of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 (World Health Organization, 2024).

1 IN 8

The proportion of women in the United States who will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives (National Cancer Institute, 2021).

%

The percentage of women undergoing cancer treatment who reduce their work hours or take extended leave (NHI, 2020).
Cancer diagnosis and treatment often come during peak career years, affecting women’s ability to maintain productivity and leadership roles. The physical, emotional, and cognitive side effects of cancer and its treatments can significantly impact work performance and career progression.

For instance, “chemobrain”—a common term for cognitive changes caused by cancer treatment—affects up to 75% of patients, impacting memory, attention, and executive function (Mayo Clinic, 2021). This cognitive impairment can reduce self-efficacy, decrease workplace productivity, increase absenteeism, and lower retention rates among female employees.

Professional women in a meeting

The Cost

The economic burden of cancer on employers is substantial. Indirect costs stem from reduced productivity and increased absenteeism.

$310 million

The estimated annual cost of lost productivity in Canada due to cancer (Appl Health Econ Health Policy, 2020)

$7.5 billion

Estimated annual cost for employers cancer-related productivity losses in the United States alone (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2019).

Ignoring the impact of cancer on female employees can lead to a loss of experienced, capable workers, which costs employers dearly.

3-4x employee’s total salary

The estimated total cost of replacing an employee, including recruitment, training, and lost productivity (Society for Human Resource Management, 2020).

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References

  1. American Cancer Society – “Key Statistics for Breast Cancer” – https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html#:~:text=Overall%2C%20the%20average%20risk%20of,will%20never%20have%20the%20disease.
  2. Iragorri N, de Oliveira C, Fitzgerald N, Essue B. The Indirect Cost Burden of Cancer Care in Canada: A Systematic Literature Review. Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2021 May;19(3):325-341. doi: 10.1007/s40258-020-00619-z. Epub 2020 Dec 24. PMID: 33368032; PMCID: PMC8060233. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8060233/#:~:text=Societal%20productivity%20losses%20associated%20with,million%20to%20%24317%20million%2C%20annually.
  3. World Health organization – Breast cancer fact sheet (2024) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
  4. Ju, H., Jones, M., Mishra, G., & Anderson, A. (2020). The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea. Epidemiologic Reviews, 39(1), 104-113. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6992498/
  5. Canadian Cancer Society – “Breast cancer statistics” – https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/breast/statistics
  6. Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2024. 2024: https://cancer.ca/en/research/cancer-statistics
  7. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Chemobrain. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic
  8. World Health Organization – “Breast cancer” – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
  9. Arnold M, Morgan E, Rumgay H, Mafra A, Singh D, Laversanne M, Vignat J, Gralow JR, Cardoso F, Siesling S, Soerjomataram I. Current and future burden of breast cancer: Global statistics for 2020 and 2040. Breast. 2022 Dec;66:15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2022.08.010. Epub 2022 Sep 2. PMID: 36084384; PMCID: PMC9465273. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9465273/
  10. Canadian Partnership Against Cancer – Programs and Resources to Facilitate Return to Work for People with Cancer or Other Chronic Diseases (2012) – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1g4Fh9oe81_KZ9o74vpIk2C0nQJozWU91
  11. Tan FSI, Shorey S. Experiences of women with breast cancer while working or returning to work: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Apr;30(4):2971-2982. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06615-w. Epub 2021 Oct 13. PMID: 34647131. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34647131/

 

Disclaimer: This one-pager offers a summary of key topics in women's health, supported by research data and sources. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not replace detailed academic studies. For more comprehensive and detailed insights, please refer to the original research cited.