Cancer Support UK introduces new course to support employees affected by cancer

If a work colleague told you they had cancer how would you respond? This scenario is fast becoming a reality, as by 2030 it is estimated that 1.5million people of working age will be living with cancer. The impact that a cancer diagnosis can have on an individual’s mental health is significant, yet 85 percent of employees with a cancer diagnosis want to carry on working. Knowing how to conduct a difficult conversation about cancer, and support those with cancer in the workplace, is at the heart of a new training programme – the Cancer Support Ambassador course – introduced by wellbeing experts Cancer Support UK.

Developed  specifically to give individuals in an organisation the confidence and skills to support colleagues facing cancer, the training provides a high-level introduction to cancer and cancer treatments.

The half day course covers the physical and emotional side effects of both cancer and cancer treatments. Most importantly, it contains tools and strategies that equip workplace cancer support ambassadors with the necessary skills and principles to have supportive conversations with individuals experiencing emotional turmoil due to or caused by the effects of cancer.

The training also provides personal wellbeing and resilience guidance, which participants can make use of after difficult conversations.

Cancer Support UK will implement bespoke training schemes for organisations on request – contact Olivia Gray, Head of Learning and Development: olivia@cancersupportuk.org. Tel: 07763630954.

Autumn training dates

Alternatively, up to three people from one organisation can join a half day course, on the following dates:

• Tuesday 18 October 1pm to 4pm
• Tuesday 15 November 10am to 1pm

Key benefits

• Strategies to manage structured supportive conversations
• Confidence to support someone who has cancer
• Understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy
• An understanding of the change process that people go through when receiving a diagnosis and/or treatment
• Learning the skill of high-level listening and how to ask the right questions
• Using the right language
• Self-care tips
• Helps address the issues of isolation in the workplace caused by cancer