By Gavin Mackintosh-
625,000 Cancer patients in the UK are suffering from depression after cancer treatment, a research by Macmillan Cancer Support shows.
The research reveals that 165,000 cancer patients in the Uk, live twice longer than they did at the beginning of the 70’s.
Reasons given for the dramatic improvement in survival rates include improvements in treatments and speedier diagnosis, the findings explain.
Entitled ‘cancer then and ‘cancer now’, the research, however, highlights an alarmingly high level of depression suffering by recovering patients, following effective medical treatment.
DEPRESSION
625,000 cancer patients suffer from depression after treatment, with many losing job opportunities in the process. The loss of job opportunities after treatment is a sad discovery because it means employers unfairly discriminate against cancer sufferers following recovery.
LIFT
Employers really should be giving sufferers a lift, in order to return them to the labour market, not dragging them down. Recovered cancer patient, Helen Testing, told the BBC that she suffered swollen arms, legs, and knees when she was recovering from cancer.
It made her more depressed and worthless. Recovering patients often feel they are being judged, and not encouraged from fully overcoming the psychological effects of their operation.Further distress toTaskera, came in the form of denied job opportunities, immediately after recovering from a cancer operation. She said even after being granted a job opportunity, the job suddenly disappeared once she filled in her medical records.
UNFORTUNATE
![cancer patient](https://theeyeofmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/image-from-page-664-of-the-breast-its-anomalies-its-diseases-and-their-treatment-1917.jpg "Image from page 664 of \")
This is an unfortunate reality that must be addressed. Parliament may have a role to play here, by making it illegal for employers to discriminate against former cancer patients. Cancer is a deadly illness with heavy side effects for many of its recoverers.
UNSYMPATHETIC
Only an unsympathetic and self-centred employer will fail to appreciate the need to support those who genuinely have the ability and credentials to carry up the job in question properly.