Employees with Cancer

Accommodation and Compliance Series
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

2

Preface

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service of the Office of Disability 

Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. JAN makes documents available 

with the understanding that the information be used solely for educational purposes. 

The information is not intended to be legal or medical advice. If legal or medical advice 

is needed, appropriate legal or medical services should be contacted. 

JAN does not endorse or recommend any products or services mentioned in this 

publication. Although every effort is made to update resources, JAN encourages 

contacting product manufacturers/vendors and service providers directly to ensure that 

they meet the intended purposes. This guarantees that the most up-to-date information 

is obtained. 

The following document is not copyrighted and reproduction is encouraged. Section 

105 of the Copyright Law provides that no copyright protection is available for works 

created by the U.S. Government. Therefore, all works created by JAN fall under this 

provision. While individuals may use such work with impunity, individuals may not 

claim copyright in the original government work, only in the original material added. 

Individuals may access the full text of the law from the U.S. Copyright Office 

http://www.loc.gov/copyright. Please note that specific information cited by JAN may be 

copyrighted from other sources. Citing secondary sources from a JAN publication may 

violate another organization's or individual's copyright. Permission must be obtained 

from these sources on a case-by-case basis. When using JAN materials, JAN asks that 

the materials not be reproduced for profit, that the tone and substance of the information 

are not altered, and that proper credit is given to JAN as the source of the information. 

For further information regarding this or any other document provided by JAN, please 

contact JAN.

Authored by Beth Loy, Ph.D. Updated 03/22/10.
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

3

JAN’S ACCOMMODATION AND COMPLIANCE SERIES

Introduction

JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine 

effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act 

(ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and 

provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and 

resources for additional information. 

The Accommodation and Compliance Series is a starting point in the accommodation 

process and may not address every situation. Accommodations should be made on a 

case by case basis, considering each employee’s individual limitations and 

accommodation needs. Employers are encouraged to contact JAN to discuss specific 

situations in more detail. 

For information on assistive technology and other accommodation ideas, visit JAN's 

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) at http://askjan.org/soar.

Information about Cancer

How prevalent is cancer?

The lifetime risk of developing cancer is 1 in 2 for men and 1 in 3 for women (Ries, et 

al., 2004). 

What is cancer?

Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although 

there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of 

abnormal cells. Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the 

early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes 

an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or 

dying cells and to repair injuries. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they 

are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue 

to form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body where 

they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called metastasis, occurs 

as the cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of our body. When cells 

from a cancer like breast cancer spread to another organ like the liver, the cancer is still 

called breast cancer, not liver cancer (American Cancer Society, Inc., 2005).

What are the symptoms of cancer?

Some generalized symptoms and signs such as unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, 

or lumps may be seen in several types of cancer; however, other signs and symptoms 

are relatively specific to a particular type of cancer (American Cancer Society, Inc., 

2005).
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

4

What causes cancer?

Cancer is caused by both external (chemicals, radiation, and viruses) and internal 

(hormones, immune conditions, and inherited mutations) factors. Different cancers 

have different risk factors. Causal factors may act together or in sequence to initiate or 

promote cancer. Risk factors may increase a person's risk but do not always "cause" 

the disease. Many people with one or more risk factors never develop cancer, while 

others with this disease have no known risk factors. Ten or more years can pass 

between exposures or mutations and detectable cancer (American Cancer Society, 

2005).

How is cancer staged?

Staging is the process of finding out how much cancer there is in the body and where it 

is located. Doctors use this information to plan treatment and to help determine a 

person’s outlook (prognosis). Cancers with the same stage usually have similar 

outlooks and are often treated the same way. Staging is also a way doctors can 

communicate with each other about a person’s case. For most cancers, the stage is 

based on 3 main factors: the original (primary) tumor’s size and whether the tumor has 

grown into other nearby areas, whether the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph 

nodes, and whether the cancer has spread to distant areas of the body (American 

Cancer Society, 2005).

How is cancer treated?

Treatment options may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and 

immunotherapy. Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment; sixty percent of people 

with cancer will have surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy waves, such as xrays or gamma rays, to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat 

cancer. Systemic chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs that are usually given into a vein 

or by mouth to enter the bloodstream and reach all areas of the body. Hormone therapy 

is treatment with hormones, drugs that interfere with hormone production (American 

Cancer Society, 2005).

Cancer and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Is cancer a disability under the ADA?

The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. 

Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet 

(EEOC, 1992). Therefore, some people with cancer will have a disability under the ADA 

and some will not. 

A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially 

limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as 

having such an impairment (EEOC, 1992). For more information about how to 

determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, visit 

http://askjan.org/corner/vol02iss04.htm.
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

5

Accommodating Employees with Cancer

(Note: People with cancer may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but 

seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be 

aware that not all people with cancer will need accommodations to perform their jobs 

and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample 

of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.)

Questions to Consider:

1. What limitations is the employee with cancer experiencing?

2. How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?

3. What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?

4. What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all 

possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?

5. Has the employee with cancer been consulted regarding possible accommodations?

6. Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee 

with cancer to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to determine 

whether additional accommodations are needed?

7. Do supervisory personnel and employees need training regarding cancer?

Accommodation Ideas:

Fatigue/Weakness:

• Reduce or eliminate physical exertion and workplace stress

• Schedule periodic rest breaks away from the workstation

• Allow a flexible work schedule and flexible use of leave time

• Allow work from home

• Implement ergonomic workstation design

• Provide a scooter or other mobility aid if walking cannot be reduced

• Provide parking close to the work-site 

• Install automatic door openers 

• Make sure materials and equipment are within reach range 

• Move workstation close to other work areas, office equipment, and break rooms

• Reduce noise with sound absorbent baffles/partitions, environmental sound 

machines, and headsets

• Provide alternate work space to reduce visual and auditory distractions
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

6

Medical Treatment Allowances:

• Provide flexible schedules

• Provide flexible leave

• Allow a self-paced workload with flexible hours

• Allow employee to work from home

• Provide part-time work schedules

Respiratory Difficulties: 

• Provide adjustable ventilation 

• Keep work environment free from dust, smoke, odor, and fumes 

• Implement a "fragrance-free" workplace policy and a “smoke free” building policy

• Avoid temperature extremes 

• Use fan/air-conditioner or heater at the workstation

• Redirect air conditioning and heating vents

Skin Irritations: 

• Avoid infectious agents and chemicals 

• Avoid invasive procedures (activities that could be harmful to a person’s skin 

condition)

• Provide protective clothing

Stress: 

• Develop strategies to deal with work problems before they arise 

• Provide sensitivity training to coworkers 

• Allow telephone calls during work hours to doctors and others for support 

• Provide information on counseling and employee assistance programs 

Temperature Sensitivity:

• Modify work-site temperature

• Modify dress code 

• Use fan/air-conditioner or heater at the workstation

• Allow flexible scheduling and flexible use of leave time

• Allow work from home during extremely hot or cold weather 

• Maintain the ventilation system 

• Redirect air conditioning and heating vents

• Provide an office with separate temperature control
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

7

Situations and Solutions:

An engineer working for a large industrial company had to undergo radiation treatment 

for cancer during working hours. She was provided a flexible schedule in order to 

attend therapy and also continue to work full-time. 

A machine operator who was undergoing radiation therapy for cancer was 

accommodated by having his workstation moved. The move transferred the individual 

to an area of the plant where no radiation exposure existed. 

A warehouse worker whose job involved maintaining and delivering supplies was having 

difficulty with the physical demands of his job due to fatigue from chemotherapy 

treatment. The individual was accommodated with a three-wheeled scooter to reduce 

walking. The warehouse was also rearranged to reduce the individual’s climbing and 

reaching. 

A secretary with cancer was having difficulty working full-time due to fatigue from 

chemotherapy treatments. Her employer accommodated her by allowing her to work 

part-time and allowing her to take frequent rest breaks while working. 

A psychiatric nurse with cancer was experiencing difficulty dealing with job-related 

stress. He was accommodated with a temporary transfer and was referred to the 

employer’s employee assistance program for emotional support and stress 

management tools. 

A lawyer with cancer was experiencing lapses in concentration due to the medication 

she was taking. Her employer accommodated her by giving her uninterrupted time to 

work. She was also allowed to work at home two days a week. 

Products:

There are numerous products that can be used to accommodate people with limitations. 

JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource at http://askjan.org/soar is 

designed to let users explore various accommodation options. Many product vendor 

lists are accessible through this system; however, JAN provides these lists and many 

more that are not available on the Web site upon request. Contact JAN directly if you 

have specific accommodation situations, are looking for products, need vendor 

information, or are seeking a referral.
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

8

Resources

Job Accommodation Network

West Virginia University

PO Box 6080 

Morgantown, WV 26506-6080

Toll Free: (800)526-7234

TTY: (877)781-9403

Fax: (304)293-5407

jan@askjan.org

http://askjan.org

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service that provides 

information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and 

the employability of people with disabilities. 

Office of Disability Employment Policy

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-1303

Washington, DC 20210

Toll Free: (866)633-7365

TTY: (877)889-5627

Fax: (202)693-7888

http://www.dol.gov/odep/

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is an agency within the U.S. 

Department of Labor. ODEP provides national leadership to increase employment 

opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities while striving to eliminate barriers to 

employment. 

American Cancer Society

250 Williams Street

Atlanta, GA 30303

Toll Free: (800)227-2345

Direct: (404)315-1123

Fax: (404)315-9348

http://www.cancer.org

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health 

organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing 

cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, 

education, advocacy, and service. 
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

9

American Institute for Cancer Research

1759 R Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

Toll Free: (800)843-8114

Direct: (202)328-7744

Fax: (202)328-7226

aicrweb@aicr.org

http://www.aicr.org

Provides general information on cancer and information on the society's programs and 

services. 

Cancer Hope Network

2 North Rd., Suite A

Chester, NJ 07930

Toll Free: (877)467-3638

Direct: (908)879-4039

Fax: (908)879-6518

info@cancerhopenetwork.org

http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org

Cancer Hope Network is a program of personal support and encouragement offered to 

people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy by persons who have 

experienced therapy themselves. A visit between a support person and the patient is 

arranged on a one-to-one basis and persons are matched according to their similarity of 

treatment. 

Cancer Information Service

NCI Public Inquiries Office

6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322

Room 3036A

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

Toll Free: (800)422-6237

TTY: (800)332-8615

cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov

http://cis.nci.nih.gov/

Through its toll-free phone service, the CIS provides accurate, up-to-date information on 

cancer to patients and their families, health professionals, and the general public. 

Through the outreach program, the CIS serves as a resource for state and regional 

organizations by providing printed materials and technical assistance to cancer 

education, media campaigns, and community programs. The CIS offices are located at 

NCI-designated cancer centers and other health care institutions. 
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

10

CancerCare, Inc.

275 Seventh Ave.

New York, NY 10001

Toll Free: (800)813-HOPE

Direct: (212)712-8400

info@cancercare.org

http://www.cancercare.org

CancerCare is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide free 

professional help to people with all cancers through counseling, education, information 

and referral and direct financial assistance. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd NE

Atlanta, GA 30333

Toll Free: (800)311-3435

Direct: (404)498-1515

http://www.cdc.gov

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are dedicated to protecting the health 

and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance 

health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships.

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link

20411 W. 12 Mile Rd., Suite 108

Southfield, MI 48076

Toll Free: (800)546-5268

Direct: (248)358-1886

info@nbmtlink.org

http://www.nbmtlink.org

The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link is a reference for bone marrow 

transplantation, finances and medical insurance, information about peer support, and 

survivor stories.

National Cancer Institute

Suite 3036A

6116 Executive Boulevard

Room 3036A

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

Toll Free: (800)422-6237

TTY: (800)332-8615

http://www.nci.nih.gov 

The National Cancer Institute is the Nation's primary agency for cancer research. 
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

11

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 770

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Toll Free: (888)650-9127

Direct: (301)650-9127

Fax: (301)565-9670

info@canceradvocacy.org

http://www.canceradvocacy.org

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) is a grassroots network of 

individuals and organizations working on behalf of people with all types of cancer. 

National Organization for Rare Disorders 

55 Kenosia Avenue

PO Box 1968

Danbury, CT 06813-1968

Toll Free: (800)999-6673

Direct: (203)744-0100

TTY: (203)797-9590

Fax: (203)798-2291

orphan@rarediseases.org

http://www.rarediseases.org/

NORD is a unique federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping 

people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. 

NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through 

programs of education, advocacy, research, and service.
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

12

References

American Cancer Society. (2005). Detailed guide: Cancer, general information.

Retrieved September 5, 2008, from

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=72

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (1992). A technical assistance manual on 

the employment provisions (title I) of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://askjan.org/links/ADAtam1.html 

Ries, L. G., Eisner, M. P., Kosary, C. L., Hankey, B. F., Miller, B. A., Clegg, L., Mariotto, 

A., Feuer, E.J., Edwards, B.K. (eds) (2004). SEER cancer statistics review, 1975-

2002, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, Retrieved September 5, 2008, 

from http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2002
Practical Solutions • Workplace Success

13

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a 

contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment 

Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the 

position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, 

commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of 

Labor.