Despite clear evidence that proactive early screening for cancer saves lives and reduces the risk of severe, late-stage diagnosis, screening among employees remains low, even as the incidence of cancer continues to rise.
According to data by Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits (CEB), cancer screening rates have hardly increased from 2018/2019 levels after a big drop during the COVID-19 years. Prostate screening (+8%) and mammograms (+6%) have seen only a modest recovery in 2024. Bucking the trend, however, is screening for bowel cancer, which increased by 20% off a low base compared to 2018..
According to the 2025 Cancer Insights by CEB, this decline in screening during COVID-19 has contributed to a sharp increase in cancer related health and insurance claims. Cancer diagnoses now account for 50% of severe illness claims in the last year.
Between 2020 and 2024, income disability claims due to breast cancer increased by 50%, cervical cancer by 100%, and colorectal cancer surged by 91%. Severe Illness claims data shows a 40% drop in early-stage diagnoses, while mid-stage and late-stage claims have increased by 70% and 29%, respectively.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, screening rates dropped as many people missed their routine cancer screenings. Unfortunately, screening rates for most cancers have not returned to 2018/2019 levels, particularly in people under 65, where the biggest spike in diagnoses is now occurring," says Guy Chennells, Chief Commercial Officer of Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits. "The surge in income disability claims reflects the shift to later stages of diagnosis, as later-stage diagnoses lead to the kind of high impact treatment regimes that lead to people needing to be off work for extended periods of time."
With one in eight South Africans between the working ages of 18 and 65 likely to develop cancer during their working lives, Chennells says employers need to actively promote screening to reduce the incidence of cancer in the workforce.
This, combined with the rise in cancer prevalence, drives the need for employee wellness benefits and campaigns that actively promote regular, proactive screening, as well as the provision of benefits linked to Cancer.
"Cancer has become a real business risk, not just a personal health issue. Employers have a critical role to play, providing cover when employees fall ill and helping them prevent serious illness through education, proactive screening and wellness support. The earlier we catch cancer, the better the outcomes for employees, their families, employers, and for the long-term sustainability of employee benefits."
Cancer survival rates
When any of the five most common cancers - breast, prostate, cervical, colorectal and skin - are detected at later stages, survival rates drop sharply. For example, in late-stage lung cancer, the survival rate is just 13%, and for colorectal cancer, it falls to as low as 9%.
In contrast, if detected in the early stages, the survival rates average above 90%, and in the case of breast cancer, the five-year survival rate is as high as 100%.
Despite most cancer screening tests being relatively non-invasive and typically taking around 20 minutes, they are still underused. "There is an apathy towards cancer screenings because of the misconception that they are invasive or take up too much time, which is not the case," explains Yasheen Modi, Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits' Head of Marketing.
"For example, prostate cancer screening involves a blood test, known as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which is minimally invasive and takes between 10 and 15 minutes."
Factors driving cancer
Beyond screening, employers also have a role to play in addressing the root causes driving cancer incidence, many of which are linked to lifestyle choices that can be influenced through workplace wellness strategies.
Modi explains that one-third of all cancers are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors, including diet, inactivity, obesity, alcohol use and smoking. "These are powerful risk factors, but also areas where employers can actively help their employees make healthier choices," he says.
Employers can make a significant difference by promoting healthier behaviours and removing barriers to preventative care. "Employers who prioritise prevention, early detection and integrated support for their employees not only reduce financial strain but also improve long term outcomes across risk, health and retirement," says Modi.
Partnering with a comprehensive EAP provider, such as Healthy Company, also allows employers to offer proactive wellness initiatives, lifestyle coaching, and support resources for managers and teams when an employee is diagnosed. This integrated model improves outcomes and helps businesses mitigate the broader operational impact of cancer in the workplace.
"A cancer diagnosis affects far more than just the individual. Managers carry emotional strain, teams experience emotional and practical disruption, and critical projects may be delayed," says Modi. "Without strong infrastructure to support affected employees, managers and teams, the financial and emotional ripple effect can have severe consequences for the organisation."
Given the growing cancer risk within workforces, Modi says that alongside a comprehensive medical aid, organisations must also ensure that their Group Risk benefits offer cancer cover. "Employee wellness should be built into the organisation's overall business strategy. And within that, cancer must be proactively addressed, both as a health issue and as an operational risk," he says. "That's why we've built an industry-first personalised support benefit into our cancer and Severe Illness Benefits, at no cost, to guide employees, employers and families through a diagnosis."