FOCUS:Japanese Companies Help Women Balance Cancer Treatment, Work

Tokyo, March 22 (Jiji Press)–A growing number of Japanese companies are stepping up efforts to help employees diagnosed with cancer balance treatment with their work responsibilities. Cancer is expected to affect one in every two people in Japan. Cancers that primarily affect women, such as breast and cervical cancer, are especially common among those in the prime of their working lives. In response, more businesses are strengthening support systems for affected employees while also promoting awareness within the workplace. “It is important to develop a better understanding of cancer and create a workplace atmosphere in which employees feel comfortable seeking advice,” an official at Daiwa Securities Group Inc. said. Breast Cancer Peaks in 40s A 49-year-old woman who works for a real estate company in Tokyo was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. At the time, she was living with her daughter, who was in high school. “I didn’t want to make my daughter sad,” she recalls. She told herself, “I need to get proper treatment and keep working so I can maintain my income.” After undergoing surgery, she continued treatment on an outpatient basis while adjusting her work schedule to what she could manage, including working from home and shortening her hours. She also chose to have breast reconstruction surgery. “I really didn’t want to lose my breasts,” she says. Now, her health has improved to the point that even the occasional mother-daughter quarrel has returned. Looking back, she says, “The support system at my workplace and the help of my colleagues made a difference.” The incidence of many cancers rises with age. But according to statistics from the National Cancer Center Japan, breast cancer, which is estimated to affect one in nine women, is unusual in that its incidence first peaks between the ages of 45 and 49. Cervical cancer peaks even earlier, between the ages of 40 and 44, the statistics show. These are often years when many women are balancing both careers and child-rearing. Awareness and Anxiety Relief Thanks to advances in medicine, many cancers can be cured if detected at an early stage. Even so, a cancer diagnosis comes as a profound shock to anyone who receives it. At Daiwa Securities Group, branch managers and department heads are given a response manual to use when an employee reports a cancer diagnosis. The guide instructs supervisors to reassure employees that “there is no need to quit their jobs” and to “confirm how much information about the illness can be shared” in the workplace. The company also regularly informs all employees about internal support systems, including flexible work arrangements and loan programs to help cover treatment costs. “We make our commitment to supporting employees clear, so they do not panic if they are diagnosed with cancer,” a company representative said. Cosmetics company Pola Inc. distributes a booklet not only to employees but also to beauty staff at its franchise stores. The booklet provides basic information about cancer, outlines available support systems and shares the experiences of employees who have faced the disease. In addition, store staff advise customers on how to check their breasts for signs that may help with early detection. A major force behind this initiative is Chizuko Ito, a 72-year-old store owner in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. After being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, she was told she had just one year to live. However, Ito underwent chemotherapy and surgery and returned to work, as she “wanted to stay connected to society,” she says. Ito also began volunteering at the hospital where she had received treatment, offering hand-care massages to patients. Her efforts have inspired cancer patients both inside and outside the company, as well as their families. According to a public relations official, Ito provided “the main impetus for Pola to expand its awareness-raising activities beyond the company.” Individuals’ Wishes Nana Shimada, 57, an executive officer at convenience store chain FamilyMart Co., has also experienced breast cancer. Given her managerial position, she decided to explain her situation to those around her and continued working while undergoing treatment. Now, employees who have been diagnosed with cancer sometimes turn to Shimada for advice. Many people with cancer choose not to disclose their diagnosis for various reasons. Some may still be struggling to come to terms with it themselves, while others do not want to be treated with excessive concern or special consideration by those around them. Shimada understands these feelings. “Each patient’s condition is different, but cancer still carries a heavy image,” she says. “People’s perceptions of it also vary widely.” Major trading house Itochu Corp. has created a system to respond to employees’ diverse career concerns, including those related to cancer treatment. According to a company official, “The individual’s wishes are the most important thing.” “We should not unilaterally reduce someone’s workload on the assumption that they must be struggling, nor should we casually suggest remote work,” the official says. “We need to be careful not to hinder an employee’s career development or make them feel isolated.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]