Cancer, often dubbed the “silent killer,” has no regard for age, gender, or social status. While the diagnosis alone can be a heavy burden to bear, the struggles accompanying it are manifold, especially for blue-collar workers.
Did you know that a staggering 40% of all men and women in the U.S. are projected to receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives? To make matters worse, 45% of those diagnosed are between 20 and 64 years old, the prime working age.
This has a serious impact on blue-collar workers, who make up the backbone of many industries. From juggling medical appointments with long shifts to dealing with the financial strain without a safety net, their situation is most difficult.
In this article, let us explore how and why blue-collar workers face so much difficulty with cancer diagnoses.
Are Blue Collar Workers More Prone to Cancer?
Blue-collar workers are often more susceptible to cancer due to a combination of lifestyle factors and limited access to preventative healthcare.
However, the primary factor for increased cancer risk is occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals and conditions. Many of the industries they work in use carcinogenic substances like asbestos, lead, benzene, and formaldehyde.
Construction workers, for example, are frequently exposed to asbestos while working on renovation and demolition projects. The cancer and health risks associated with asbestos are no secret.
Similarly, agricultural workers routinely handle pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. The chemicals present in these products have been linked to various cancers, including leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Firefighters who respond to fuel and liquid fires often have to use foam-based extinguishers. The chemicals in them have led to countless cancer cases. TorHoerman Law states that over 6,000 individual cases have so far been filed.
These firefighter foam cancer lawsuit cases have been against major companies like DuPont and 3M. However, it’s not just the foam that’s carcinogenic.
Even the turnout gear they use is known to contain toxic PFAS or forever chemicals. All these factors have made it so that 66% of firefighter deaths between 2002 and 2019 were due to cancer. Did you know that firefighters were twice as likely to be diagnosed with testicular cancer and mesothelioma as others?
We can clearly see how cancer rates among blue-collar workers are directly related to their occupations.
The Lack of Financial and Psychological Support Hurts
The burden that comes from financial stress also weighs heavily on blue-collar workers. Many of them earn lower incomes compared to their white-collar counterparts, and with inflation so high, it can be overwhelming.
With limited access to health insurance and paid sick leave, they often find themselves looking at healthcare bills they simply can’t afford
Considering their financial situation, cancer treatment places an enormous strain on these individuals and their families. Many of them end up choosing to hide their diagnoses from loved ones. After all, they don’t want to burden their spouse and children, who likely have worries of their own.
Workers may fear discrimination or judgment from their colleagues, which also plays a role in keeping their diagnosis hidden. It certainly doesn’t help that 40% of men won’t talk about their mental health. Having to handle the weight of a cancer diagnosis on your own is something no one should have to endure.
The mental energy required to juggle work, family responsibilities, and a medical condition can be overwhelming. This stress can hurt decision-making and cause mental fatigue, which affects performance at work and interactions at home.
The High Costs of Delay and Hesitation in Seeking Treatment
Being unsupported on multiple fronts ends up having a profound impact on how blue-collar workers approach cancer treatment. They often postpone seeking medical attention. Some may seek treatment but are unable to balance it with their work responsibilities.
These delays and inconsistent treatment results in advanced and potentially less treatable stages of cancer. This is particularly the case with certain cancers that quickly spread to other parts of the body.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment might also make the person more susceptible to complications, either due to the cancer itself or from the treatment. During this process, some blue-collar workers may opt for less expensive or suboptimal treatment.
As a result, they forgo potentially life-saving therapies and compromise their long-term health.
Conclusion
Considering how much we rely on them, it’s essential for policymakers and the healthcare system to acknowledge the struggles faced by blue-collar workers. We desperately need to implement solutions to provide them with more comprehensive support.
While practical help in terms of cancer treatment is the priority, support should also extend to mental health. There tends to be an unwarranted stigma associated with illness or ‘perceived weakness’ in blue-collar workplaces. This needs to change.
Support can also come in the form of improved workplace flexibility, financial assistance programs, and accessible mental health services.