Coping practically with cancer
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was originally written in 1995. This Act was made to stop discrimination against disabled people. It aimed to make sure people were not treated differently or less well because they have a disability.
In 2010, the Equality Act replaced previous anti discrimination laws, bringing them together under one piece of legislation. This includes the Disability Discrimination Act. The Equality Act applies to people with cancer or those who have had cancer in the past. All cancers are included. And you are protected from the time you're diagnosed with cancer.
The Disability Discrimination Act still applies to people with cancer in Northern Ireland.
The Equality Act considers a diagnosis of cancer as a disability. You don’t have to have symptoms or consider yourself disabled by your cancer to be covered. But the Act gives you important rights.
These rights mean that you can negotiate for reasonable changes in your work or workplace. The term reasonable means that any changes or adaptations must be practical for your employer, in terms of cost and effects on other workers.
For example, if you need time off work for treatment and recovery your employer might allow you a period of leave and your job will still be there when you want to go back. Or it might be reasonable to have more flexible working hours so you can carry on working. And the Act also gives you legal protection if you feel your employer has treated you unfairly.
You don’t have to tell your employer you have cancer. But if you don’t tell them, they can’t make any changes to your job or workplace. You can ask your employer to keep the information confidential so only people you agree to have this information are told.
Read more about money matters and cancer
People involved in your education should not treat you less well because you have cancer. An example of this is your college making sure you get notes from lectures you miss due to having treatment.
Providers of any services you might use have to make sure you can use them in the same way as people without a disability. Examples of this are:
supermarkets giving you help when you're shopping
shops making changes to their buildings, so it’s easier for you to get around them if you have problems walking
There are special rules about insurance in the Equality Act. For example, life insurance, health insurance or car insurance companies have to use reliable medical information and look at all the relevant factors when you apply for insurance.
If you have a type of cancer that statistics show is either curable or manageable, it might be against the law for the life insurance company to refuse you insurance or charge you a higher premium. This might mean that insurers need to ask your doctor for more detailed information about your condition.
Find out more about life insurance and cancer
One example of the rights you have under the Equality Act is that landlords can’t refuse to let a property to you because you have a disability.
You have some options if you feel you have been discriminated against because you have cancer. It's always best to start by talking to the person involved about your concerns. This might be your employer, tutor or landlord. It helps to keep a record of what happened and when.
You could speak with your union or human resources officer if the problem is with your employer. There is a scheme called Access to Work that can help with making changes at your place of work. This is for people in England, Scotland and Wales.
Find out more about Access to Work including an Easy Read guide
You can also get advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau if you can't resolve the problem by discussion.
Some people who can’t resolve the problem might want to go further and take legal action. Before you do this, take advice and get as much information as you can. You'll need to think about the cost, because taking legal action can be very expensive. Most people are able to resolve problems without taking any legal action.
You might need emotional, practical or financial support when you have cancer.
We have more information about coping practically when you have cancer.
Last reviewed: 09 Aug 2023
Next review due: 10 Aug 2026
Coping with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available. Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them.
Cancer might affect your personal finances, such as your mortgage, pension, credit cards and insurance. A financial adviser can offer advice.
Get information on coping with practical matters such as money and travel, as well as treatment for overseas visitors.
Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
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