• 4 February: World Cancer Day
Over and above all other health and wellbeing issues, cancer is the condition for which RedArc receives most new cases.
Looking at data from the past five years (2020-2024 inclusive), RedArc received a third (33%) more new cancer cases than for the next most supported condition (mental health), and in fact, in 2024 alone, received more than two new cancer cases for each individual mental health case.
No two cancer journeys will ever be identical, and even the day-to-day can ebb and flow for an individual, depending on the type of cancer they have been diagnosed with and where they are in a treatment cycle.
Whether someone is waiting for a diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or in recovery, not only is it important to have support provided by clinically trained staff who have the time to get to know each individual and their personal situation, it’s also vital that supporting staff have experience to call on to know exactly what support is needed and when.
Christine Husbands, commercial director, RedArc said: “There are a number of important aspects in offering cancer care. It is of course crucial to have a wide range of options available, but when there is a wide range, such as in a menu approach, decisions must be made about which type of support, therapy or counselling is going to be the most effective. If individuals are left to self-select it can be very daunting and there can be a risk of sub-optimal choices being made, it’s invaluable for them to have a guiding hand throughout the whole support process.”
Any organisation looking to put in place a partner for cancer care, or looking to review their existing programme, should be aware of the fundamentals in providing this type of support: it must be holistic and tailored, because cancer can impact almost every aspect of an individual’s life, and everyone is different
RedArc’s experience is that a wide range of different types of support is needed by each cancer patient. This can include support for family members, practical help, such as relevant information, advice on managing side-effects, arranging medical equipment for the home to aid mobility as well as helping to arrange care for dependants – both young and old. Dedicated support from a health professional also aids the understanding of a diagnosis, surgery and treatment options, and, when appropriate enable an individual to access a second medical opinion.
Clinically trained staff can also identify if the individual would benefit from mental health support, and importantly, having access to the same healthcare professional who has plenty of time to listen on a regular basis can be invaluable. Employees also often benefit from professional support in staying in work, or when the time is right, making a return to work.
Christine Husbands, commercial director, RedArc said: “Cancer support works best when it treats the person as a whole – taking in to account the mental and social factors that affect a person, as well as the disease itself. Support that recognises this will have the most impact. We can advocate this, not just as an idealistic notion, but having provided holistic support to thousands of people, over several decades, we know that practical advice and emotional support are every bit as important as financial assistance, if not more so.”