Mesothelioma | Mesothelioma

Fifty percent of all cancer cases could be prevented or detected earlier by screening, according to the American Cancer Society.

"That's one of the reasons we're doing this," said Jeanne Mell, senior vice president for the chamber.

"There's a bottom-line benefit.

It's a lot less expensive to treat cancer if it's discovered in the early stages." Cancer also makes it difficult for employees to cope with work.

When Cooke was diagnosed, she said, her employer and co-workers didn't know how to react.

"I was one of the first people they dealt with on a close basis who had cancer," she said.

"At first, they were not sure how to handle me." It sounds all too familiar to Jill Royston, a manager at AstraZeneca Plc.

Last year, Royston received a phone call at home from an employee who was diagnosed with cancer.

She immediately searched the Internet for information.

"There wasn't a Web site where I could go and click on 'Managers of people with cancer click here,' " Royston said.

"Nothing was readily available." Pletcher said several approaches - such as programs that provide employees with a network of support organizations or help them navigate their insurance benefits - can be adopted by businesses at little cost.

"The main thrust is really raising awareness in the workplace," Pletcher said.

"There are resources, things you can do as an employer that can equip your company with the tools ...

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