PODCAST: Why employers can’t ignore cancer screening

Cancer is no longer just a personal health issue. For employers across the UK, it is increasingly a workforce challenge - affecting productivity, financial security, employee wellbeing and long-term resilience.

Cancer incidence continues to rise, driven by an ageing population and lifestyle-related risk factors. Yet the infrastructure required to diagnose and treat cancer has not kept pace. The result is longer waits for tests, later diagnoses and poorer outcomes for many working-age people.

These challenges were explored in a recent discussion hosted by the Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (amii), bringing together leading voices from across healthcare and employee wellbeing.

Why employers are stepping into early cancer detection

Around 40% of cancers in the UK are considered preventable, yet many people are still diagnosed at a later stage, when treatment is more complex, and outcomes are less favourable.

NHS diagnostic services remain under sustained pressure, and GPs are often forced to act as a difficult gatekeeper when referring patients for further investigation. For employers, this gap increasingly translates into prolonged sickness absence, uncertainty for employees and rising costs linked to delayed diagnosis.

During the amii discussion, Professor Gordon Wishart, Founder, Chief Medical Officer and CEO of Check4Cancer, joined Dave Middleton to examine why cancer screening has moved from being a “nice to have” benefit to an essential component of modern workforce health strategy.

The three pillars of effective early detection

Professor Wishart outlined three core elements that underpin successful early cancer detection:

Education
Helping people recognise the signs and symptoms of common cancers and understand their personal risk factors.

Prevention through screening
Providing access to appropriate screening programmes that can detect cancer earlier - or prevent it altogether.

Rapid diagnosis pathways
Ensuring timely access to diagnostic tests and specialist review when concerns are identified.

When one of these pillars is missing, delays and poorer outcomes become more likely.

Targeted screening that delivers real engagement

Through its MyCancerRisk platform, Check4Cancer supports employers by identifying the highest-risk 20% of employees and enabling targeted education and funded screening where it matters most.

Organisations using MyCancerRisk typically see:

• Around 40% workforce engagement
• Up to 70% screening uptake among those identified as higher risk

This targeted approach ensures resources are focused effectively, supporting earlier detection while delivering meaningful value for employers and employees alike.

Lifestyle, prevention and the bigger picture

The discussion also highlighted growing concern around lifestyle-related risk factors. Obesity is now strongly linked to cancers such as bowel cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer, while ultra-processed foods and changing lifestyle patterns may be contributing to rising cancer rates in younger people.

Preventative action, combined with risk-based screening, has the potential to significantly reduce long-term health and economic impacts - not only for individuals, but for organisations and the wider economy.

From benefit to essential workforce infrastructure

As NHS capacity remains under pressure, employers are increasingly filling critical gaps in early detection and prevention. Cancer screening is no longer viewed simply as a wellbeing perk, but as a core part of responsible workforce management.

As Professor Wishart noted during the discussion:

“We are seeing cancer rates continue to rise, while the infrastructure needed to diagnose and treat patients has not kept pace. Early detection remains the single biggest factor in improving survival, yet many people are still being diagnosed too late.”

Dave Middleton added:

“Cancer screening has moved from being seen as a ‘nice to have’ to an essential part of workforce health and wellbeing. Employers are recognising the role they can play in supporting early detection and protecting both health outcomes and financial security.”

Listen to the full discussion

The full conversation is available on the amii Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, where Professor Gordon Wishart and Dave Middleton explore the challenges and opportunities facing employers in more depth.