Cancer patients and relatives meet in Benidorm to alleviate the impact of the disease on work life

Today in Benidorm, affected people and relatives of cancer patients have made a call “to all social actors to unite to alleviate or reduce the impact” that the disease has “on the working life of those diagnosed, their families and companies.” This is one of the issues included in the manifesto that was read this afternoon in Plaça dels Almadravers, next to Mal Pas beach, in an event convened by the local board of the Spanish Association against Cancer of Benidorm.

The event held on the occasion of World Cancer Day was attended by, among others, the mayor, Toni Pérez; the Councilor for Social Welfare, Ángela Zaragozí; members of the municipal corporation; the president of the local board of the entity, Olga Cascales; the Queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Valentina Almodóbar and Laia Zamora; as well as members of the association, diagnosed people, family members and neighbours.

Vicenta Asencio was in charge of reading the manifesto in which it was revealed that “cancer is the disease associated with a higher prevalence of job loss, since the risk of being unemployed increases by 34% in cancer survivors.” in front of the general population.” Hence, “the importance of addressing the work impact that the diagnosis entails for sick people and the subsequent return to work.”

It has also been warned that "the survival rate has stagnated in recent years and is around 51%, being much lower in some types of cancer", which makes it " necessary to multiply the effort" in the fight against illness to vary the figures.

In this regard, it has been assured that "it is time to take the first step to change the figures", and it has been stated that "the Spanish Association against Cancer has a very clear mission: to achieve 70% survival." in cancer in Spain by 2030”. To achieve this, we must “raise awareness and mobilize Spanish society about the importance of adding the resources and capabilities of everyone around a great action program against cancer, which increases the resources available for prevention projects, research, care and dissemination.”

After the manifesto, the attendees formed a great human bond, which was followed by a solidarity lunch on Olivos Street.