In honor of Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, transform your approach to cancer care by providing comprehensive support to protect employees from the sweeping impact of bladder cancer. 

Overlooked for so long, bladder cancer is finally making its presence known—and impossible to ignore. Now the ninth most common cancer type in the world (up from the 10th), bladder cancer affects more than 615,000 new patients each year and continues to disrupt the lives of the more than 1.7 million survivors living with or beyond the disease in 2025. 

Yet, despite its impressive reach, awareness remains alarmingly low. New research shows that nearly a third of people remain unaware of the disease’s existence, while those who are acquainted with the condition—one way or another—often feel reluctant to talk about it. Such findings are disheartening, especially considering that over four in every five cases could be prevented with greater awareness and a sustained commitment to risk reduction, healthier lifestyles, and environmental improvements.  

As more individuals confront this life-altering diagnosis, it’s time for employers to take decisive action: shielding workers from harm, driving early detection and treatment, and improving lives. In doing so, employers can seize a momentous opportunity to demonstrate a genuine commitment to creating truly inclusive, safe, and supportive environments for cancer patients and survivors in 2025. 

Bladder Cancer: A Window into What Survivors Need Most 

Once described as a ‘window of opportunity’ for understanding cancer, bladder cancer brings together a perfect storm of challenges that can arise before, during, and after the cancer experience.  

With stigma and ignorance undermining patients’ wellbeing at every turn—and a confluence of uncomfortable treatments, distressing symptoms, and negative interactions resulting in higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidality post-treatment—bladder cancer exposes the many gaps in support that persist across the cancer journey. For employers, this presents a critical opportunity to better understand where support systems fall short—and how they can help close these gaps and drive better outcomes for survivors. 

Pre-Diagnosis: Missed Signals, Misinformation, & Shame 

“What makes bladder cancer such a critical priority is its high detectability, treatability, and preventability,” states Shreemayee Ray, an EAP Counselor at Workplace Options (WPO). “Modifiable risk factors like smoking account for over 80 percent of cases. Meanwhile, the warning signs of disease are relatively pronounced compared with other cancers—and if detected and treated early, can result in positive long-term outcomes for over 90 percent of patients.” 

Unfortunately, many underestimate their risk or how their habits may contribute to it, she explains, while symptoms are often misunderstood or overlooked. More than half of patients are initially misdiagnosed, while others frequently face delays in specialist referral—increasing the risk of advanced disease. 

Stigma only adds another layer of harm. 

Over half of patients blame themselves for their illness, research shows, while more than a third feel blamed or judged by others—including healthcare providers. This shame inevitably creates a vicious cycle, wherein the less people talk about bladder cancer, the less likely others are to detect, treat, or understand it. 

“With patients and survivors too ashamed to talk about their experience; providers too unfamiliar with the disease to promptly and correctly diagnose it; and with much of the general public still in the dark about the disease altogether,” Ray explains, “it becomes incredibly hard for individuals to keep abreast of their risk, act on early warning signs, and protect their health.” 

For survivors, too, this dynamic makes the journey all the more challenging, as delayed diagnoses often equal more intensive treatments, worsened symptoms, longer recovery times, and above all, greater psychological and psychosocial distress. 

Post-Diagnosis: Stigma, Silence, & the Struggle for Support 

Life after diagnosis can be just as challenging. Nearly a quarter of bladder cancer survivors feel society treats them worse than those with other types of cancer, while nearly three-quarters of working age patients report experiencing stigma at work. 

“Bladder cancer carries a unique social burden,” Ray says. “Because it’s linked to lifestyle choices like smoking, patients often feel blamed. And the private nature of the disease only adds to the isolation.”  

Research shows that one in four patients report feeling lonely or isolated during treatment. A lack of workplace support, limited preparation for the physical and psychological challenges ahead, and the absence of a strong, informed support network all contribute. 

For many, this includes encountering stigma around their ability to return to work or regain their full working capacity. For patients who undergo radical surgeries—such as those involving a stoma—these concerns are often intensified, as employers fail to adjust the work environment to accommodate new needs, while managers and colleagues question how these changes might affect the patient’s performance or participation within the team. 

The absence of clear guidance—from healthcare providers or employers—on how to navigate these challenges only exacerbates patients’ distress. Left to self-advocate in an environment that seems unprepared (if not unwilling) to support them, many opt to remain silent instead, fearing stigma, retaliation, and job insecurity.  

“When employees don’t feel safe—or sufficiently informed—to speak up and seek support,” Ray argues, “they’re far less likely to get what they need to protect their health, recover their wellbeing, and reclaim their personal and professional lives with confidence.” 

Post-Treatment: Lingering Fear, Lasting Stress, & the Absence of Comprehensive Care 

The difficulty of accessing adequate care during treatment only intensifies once survivors enter remission.  

While the end of treatment is often seen as the finish line—complete with bell-ringing and a return to work—for survivors, it marks the start of another arduous journey: recovery. For bladder cancer survivors, this period can be particularly traumatic—filled with anxiety, grief, and lasting psychological stress. 

With recurrence rates as high as 70 percent, fear becomes a constant. ‘Scanxiety’—the dread surrounding follow-up exams—is widespread, affecting over two-thirds of survivors. Depression and PTSD are reported by 78 and 25 percent of survivors, respectively. Meanwhile, the risk of suicide is five times higher among bladder cancer survivors than in the general population; 1.6x higher compared to survivors of other cancers. 

Yet despite the clear emotional toll, far too few survivors receive the psychological support they need. Only 38 percent of patients say they feel emotionally supported throughout their recovery—despite over 70 percent requiring some form of psychological intervention. 

“Emotional support isn’t just helpful for survivors’ short-term wellbeing, but crucial to their long-term health and recovery,” Ray explains. “Psychological care is directly tied to better outcomes, fewer postsurgical complications, and improved long-term survival. Yet, too often, this support is either absent, insufficient, or too difficult to access.” 

As a result, many survivors instead turn to the internet for support, or encounter services that don’t fully address the complex challenges they face—from grief and body image issues to strained relationships and financial stress. 

Workplaces, too, frequently fall short. While the return to work can help restore survivors’ confidence and sense of identity, the process is rarely smooth. Without meaningful accommodations or structured reintegration, survivors face an overwhelming transition. Concerns about performance, stigma from colleagues, and practical challenges—like managing a stoma or dealing with chronic fatigue—only add to the strain. 

Support for survivors’ holistic wellbeing, meanwhile, also remains scarce. While many are urged to adopt healthier habits—like quitting tobacco, increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and maintaining a healthy weight—few receive the personalized guidance needed to follow through. This not only impedes recovery but increases the risk of recurrence or a second cancer. 

“With the difference between recurrence and lasting recovery only a matter of timely, comprehensive care, the role employers play in facilitating survivors’ recovery cannot be overstated,” Ray insists. “To truly support survivors, employers must treat recovery as the long-term, multi-dimensional process it is. That means emotional, vocational, and physical wellness support cannot be afterthoughts—they must be prioritized from the start.” 

Fulfilling Employers’ Role in Risk Reduction and Recovery: 6 Solutions for Organizations 

Helping organizations facilitate employees’ full participation through comprehensive wellbeing support is at the heart of Workplace Options’ mission. At WPO, we understand the profound toll cancer can take on survivors’ personal and professional wellbeing—even long after treatment. More importantly, we recognize the pivotal role organizations play in supporting recovery—helping individuals impacted by cancer not only survive, but truly thrive.  

Over 90 percent of cancer survivors say the support they receive at work is integral to their health and wellbeing. Likewise, up to 80 percent of bladder cancer cases can be prevented or managed with greater attention to proactive measures.  

To that end, WPO offers several solutions organizations can leverage to reduce the overall impact of bladder cancer in the workplace. These include: 

1. Global Learning Solutions

Whether the focus is on prevention or recovery, stigma and ignorance are the two main barriers standing in the way of progress. With WPO’s extensive catalogue of Global Learning Solutions, organizations can break down these obstacles, offering access to courses that can help reduce employees’ cancer risk, support survivors’ recovery, and minimize the challenges they face at work.  

Courses like ‘Supporting Colleagues Through Difficult Times,’ ‘Inclusion Matters,’ and ‘Respect in the Workplace,’, for example, equip teams with the skills and insights they need to support sick or recovering employees—fostering psychologically safe environments where they feel seen, heard, and genuinely supported.  

Courses like ‘Breaking Free: Strategies for Overcoming Modern Tobacco and Vaping Challenges,’ ‘Eat Well. Move More. Sleep Better,’ and ‘Men’s Health Matters,’ meanwhile, may serve both preventive and rehabilitative aims, addressing modifiable risk factors like smoking, tackling the internalized stigma that prevents people—especially men—from receiving a timely diagnosis or care, and optimizing survivors’ recovery.  

“Education is key when it comes to disease prevention and recovery,” Ray asserts. “With WPO’s catalogue of global learning solutions, organizations an empower employees to care for their own health while supporting one another–nurturing not just healthy individuals, but healthy teams.” 

2. Wellness Coaching

Whether the goal is to minimize cancer risk or facilitate recovery, the adoption of healthier lifestyle habits is key. With WPO’s Wellness Coaching, individuals gain personalized support from ICF-certified coaches, who work with them to develop customized wellness plans that encompass weight management, nutrition, tobacco cessation, physical activity, stress management, and overall lifestyle improvements. 

With their support, individuals are empowered to take meaningful steps toward better health—building sustainable habits that promote long-term wellbeing and reduce the risk of cancer, postsurgical complications, and chronic symptoms.  

“Adopting a holistic approach to recovery—balancing emotional health with physical wellbeing—is a cornerstone of any effective rehabilitation plan,” Ray contends. “With personalized support, WPO’s coaching program ensures that each survivor receives the support they need to build a healthier, sustainable lifestyle that not only aids recovery but lowers the risk of future health issues, including recurrence.” 

3. Counseling

When it comes to minimizing the overall impact of bladder cancer on individuals’ wellbeing, emotional support plays a vital role. Psychological support isn’t just helpful for patients’ and survivors’ mental wellbeing—it’s essential to their long-term health and recovery. 

When survivors receive the emotional support they need to cope with and heal from their cancer journey, they are less likely to experience postsurgical complications and more likely to return to daily life with greater resilience. 

Through WPO’s counseling services—featuring short-term, solution-focused sessions as well as extended interventions—individuals can access the care they need, when and where they need it most—whether that’s a one-time conversation or ongoing care; by phone, video, chat or in-person.  

This support not only helps survivors process the emotional toll of living with a stigmatized and often misunderstood cancer—and the effects of its treatment—but also empowers all employees to better manage stress, thus preventing the development of harmful coping behaviors, like smoking, that can increase cancer risk over time. 

“Not only is cancer a stressor—it’s also shaped by stress,” argues Ray. “How well someone manages stress before, during, and after treatment plays a major role in determining the lasting impact cancer has on their lives. From treatment side effects to recovery, effective stress management can ease symptoms, boost resilience, and improve the healing process.” 

4. Consulting

While access to information and support is essential, fostering amenable work environments is just as critical.  

Launched earlier this year, the Center for Organizational Effectiveness (COE), powered by Workplace Options, brings a wealth of expertise, actionable insights, and tailored strategies to help organizations cultivate psychologically safe work environments where every employee feels seen, supported, and included. 

For survivors of bladder cancer, this means creating an environment where they can openly raise concerns and request accommodations without fear of retaliation—granting them the autonomy to adjust their workloads, schedules, or surroundings to meet their evolving needs. 

For all employees, the Center’s approach also seeks to create the flexibility they need to prioritize their health and wellbeing—empowering them to attend routine appointments, maintain healthy habits, and seek support at the first sign of trouble.  

“Creating an environment where survivors feel safe, supported, and empowered requires more than just the basic accommodations,” Ray emphasizes, “it demands a cultural shift. With support from the COE, organizations can create safe, inclusive workplaces where every employee has the resources they need to succeed after cancer.” 

5. Tobacco Cessation Coaching

Responsible for 45 percent of bladder cancer cases, smoking remains the single most important risk factor to address for reducing risk and driving recovery. Yet quitting tobacco is no easy feat—especially without professional intervention. The stigma and shame surrounding the habit only makes it harder for individuals to access the help they need to quit for good. 

With WPO’s Tobacco Cessation Coaching, individuals receive ongoing support from certified coaches who work collaboratively to develop personalized cessation plans and nurture new, healthier habits for long-term success.   

By raising awareness of smoking’s link to cancer—and equipping survivors with the tools to lower their risk of recurrence—the program serves as both a preventive and protective resource, helping employees safeguard their health and long-term wellbeing.   

“Quitting tobacco is one of the most effective ways to reduce cancer risk and improve overall wellbeing,” Ray insists, “but it’s also one of the most challenging transitions a person can make. WPO’s dedicated cessation program provides the personalized, expert support individuals need to achieve lasting cessation—lowering health risks while promoting a culture of wellness and self-care in the workplace.” 

6. Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass

While the above solutions are nice-to-have, the importance of a dedicated cancer support resource cannot be overstated. With Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass, Workplace Options delivers just that. 

As the first global, inclusive program of its kind, Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass is designed to provide comprehensive support for both recovery and reintegration. It aims to enhance the return-to-work journey by offering survivors the holistic care they need to restore their physical, psychological, and professional wellbeing—while equipping managers with the tools and knowledge needed to support a smooth transition.  

At the heart of the program, the Coordinators of Occupational Reintegration and Adaptation (CORAT) work collaboratively with employees—and, when requested, their managers—to address the emotional, physical, and logistical challenges of life and work after cancer, delivering expert guidance, psychological support, and practical solutions that empower survivors to reclaim their lives with confidence and clarity. 

All told, key features of the program include: 

• Emotional Support: Counseling sessions, combined with mindfulness support, help survivors build resilience and manage stress 

• Vocational Reintegration Coaching: CORAT specialists guide employees in setting achievable goals, enhancing skills, and addressing workplace challenges 

• Functional Assessments and Work-Life Searches: CORAT specialists evaluate employees’ holistic needs and connect them to essential resources, including dietary consultations, physical rehabilitation, mobility aids, and complementary therapies 

• Seamless Manager Collaboration: CORAT specialists facilitate communication between employees and managers, ensuring accommodations and reintegration plans are aligned with the needs of both parties 

• Dedicated Manager Resources and Support: Managers receive a dedicated toolkit offering guidance and best practices on topics like reaching a team agreement, adapting the job position, and building an effective reintegration plan, and are eligible to receive ongoing consultations delivered by the CORAT  

• Enhanced Organizational Commitment to Wellbeing: Program participation reflects employers’ dedication to supporting employees’ holistic wellbeing and maintaining a safe and inclusive culture at work 

“Returning to work after cancer isn’t just about resuming tasks—it’s about reclaiming one’s professional identity, rebuilding confidence, and redefining what work-life balance looks like,” Ray says. “With Cancer Care Compass, WPO equips survivors and their managers with a human-centered roadmap for reintegration—one rooted in empathy, practical support, and a genuine commitment to sustainable wellbeing.” 

Supporting Bladder Cancer Survivors at Work: Redefining What it Means to Lead with Compassion and Inclusivity 

Bladder cancer may be underrecognized, but the lessons it offers are impossible to ignore. From the stigma that keeps patients silent or uninformed, to the gaps in post-treatment support that hinder recovery, bladder cancer lays bare the urgent need for more inclusive, responsive, and compassionate systems of care—especially at work. 

For employers, bladder cancer is more than a health issue—it’s a call to lead with empathy, close long-standing equity gaps, and create workplaces where no one has to choose between their livelihood and wellbeing. By embracing this opportunity, organizations can not only help survivors of bladder cancer thrive—but raise the bar for cancer care and wellbeing support across the board. 

Ready to strengthen support for cancer survivors at work? Contact us today to learn more about our scope of holistic wellbeing solutions and how Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass puts survivors on the path to healing and balance, so they can thrive.