Globally, cancer is one of the most common conditions being faced, which in turn is leading to rising costs according to our Global Medical Trends 2025. In 2020, the reported cancer incidence in Asia was 169.1 per 100 000, contributing 50% of the global cancer incidence. The most common cancers were lung (13.8%), breast (10.8%), and colorectal (10.6%) cancers. The mortality in the region was 101.6 per/100 000, making up 58.3% of global cancer deaths. The most common causes of cancer deaths in Asia were lung (19%), liver (11%), and stomach (10%)[1].
The number of newly diagnosed cancer cases has increased from 6.6 million to 7.8 million between 2012 and 2018 in Asia-Pacific[2].
While the number of people surviving cancer to older age has increased due to success of public health, clinical medicine, advancements in medical technologies[3], treatment often involves lengthy recovery times. Even after employees finish their cancer treatment, they can feel long-term effects such as heavy fatigue, anxiety, bowel or urinary incontinence, heart or bone problems. These problems can hurt their health and happiness in the future and make it harder for them to work.
Most employers have policies in place to support employees who have been diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing treatment. However, what’s key to positively impacting health outcomes in the longer term is the creation of effective cancer prevention programmes.
According to WHO, between 30–50% of all cancer cases are preventable[4] and in this guide we look at some of the options for reducing risk.
Employers should therefore strive to educate employees on the importance of regular screenings, tests and checks.
Organisations could consider offering screenings as part of their healthcare benefits packages and can be offered as a core benefit or via a flex scheme. It is quite a common practice in Asia Pacific, where employers often organize annual onsite health screening days to have a higher level of engagement.
Offering end-to-end cancer care navigation and management addresses these challenges holistically by providing employees with a dedicated guide — typically a case manager — who supports them through every stage of their cancer journey. This solution goes beyond medical coordination to include robust emotional and mental health support, ensuring that employees are cared for as whole individuals.
While cancer care navigation and management are still emerging in Asia Pacific, evidence suggest they can significantly improve outcomes[5].
Encouraging early intervention, providing coordinated care, and putting in place mental health support can reduce unnecessary treatments, claims, and turnover. This is a critical component of any modern wellbeing strategy.
Prioritise prevention
With over 35 million new cancer cases predicted in 2050 by WHO[10] and with new cancer drugs and breakthrough treatments spiralling upwards, having effective cancer prevention practices and policies in place demonstrates a commitment to employee wellbeing – as well as representing a valuable investment towards improving the health risk of the organisation. This will ultimately lead to lower sickness absence costs and lower insurance claims spend.
Prevention really is better than cure.
Footnotes
- “Cancer: An Increasing Public Health Challenge in the Asia Pacific,” Sage Journals. Return to article
- “The burden of cancer in Asia-Pacific,” IHE. Return to article
- “Cancer: An Increasing Public Health Challenge in the Asia Pacific,” Sage Journals. Return to article
- “Preventing cancer,” World Health Organization. Return to article
- “Patient navigation for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer: technical brief,” World Health Organization. Return to article
- “Burden of smoking in Asia-Pacific countries,” Tobacco Induced Diseases . Return to article
- “What causes Cancer?,” National Cancer Centre Singapore. Return to article
- “Smoking-Related Research in the Asian-Pacific Countries,” Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. Return to article
- “The Impact of Smoking on Workplace Productivity and How Quitting Can Boost Performance,” LinkedIn. Return to article
- “Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services,” World Health Organization. Return to article
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