Some 46 per cent of cancer carers – those looking after another person who has the disease – work full-time, says Macmillan Cancer Support.

And it has been worked out that over 50,000 UK full-time workers could be giving care equivalent to more than a week’s worth of work to a cancer sufferer each week.

“Dealing with the relentless physical and emotional pressures of caring for someone with cancer is hard enough, combining it with a full-time job is extremely difficult and can drive carers to breaking point,” warned Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive, Ciarán Devane.

And there are set to be more carers in future, with more people expected to be cancer sufferers, he added.

“It’s vitally important cancer carers are fully supported both at home and at work to enable them to cope with the tough demands of their role,” he warned, a message that those in management development will no doubt take note of.

Some 11 per cent of full-time working cancer carers care for over 35 hours each week, Macmillan says.

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