# 85% of Employees Don't Know How to Respond to a Colleague with Breast Cancer

> 85% of employees don't know how to react when a coworker has breast cancer, says a French survey.
- Title: 85% of Employees Don't Know How to Respond to a Colleague…
- Summary: 85% of employees don't know how to react when a coworker has breast cancer, says a French survey. 85% of French employees don't know how to respond when a…
- Keywords: breast cancer, fasterclass survey, employees, cancer, workplace, cancer and employment, melenie, Don't, Know, Respond, Colleague, Breast
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/moi/moi-et-les-autres-moi/85-des-salaries-ne-savent-pas-quoi-dire-a-une-collegue-atteinte-de-cancer-du-sein-les-conseils-dune-malade-en-remission-643762
- Author: Nina Parage
- Published: 2026-10-21T05:03:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breast cancer, fasterclass survey, employees, cancer, workplace, cancer and employment, melenie
## Survey Finds 85% of Employees Unprepared
85% of French employees don't know how to respond when a coworker has breast cancer, according to a Fasterclass survey of 2,913 workers.
## Mélanie's Experience with Cancer
Mélanie, 31, is in remission from breast cancer and works with Jeune et Rose to educate about self-exams and cancer awareness.
## Cancer in France: High Incidence
France has the highest breast cancer incidence globally, with 61,000 new cases estimated for 2023, according to the Ministry of Health.
## Mélanie's Workplace Announcement
Mélanie told her manager by phone after her mother and best friend, saying she had no anxiety about discussing her cancer.
## Workplace Impact After Cancer
62% of employees and 61% of managers avoid talking about cancer with colleagues after a long absence from work.
## Mélanie's Advice on Colleague Responses
Mélanie says avoid phrases like 'you're young, you'll get over it' because young cancer patients face more aggressive treatment.
## Key takeaway

85% of French employees don't know how to respond when a coworker has breast cancer, according to a survey.