Is my cancer due to work?

Sometimes, we face patients or workers who state they have cancer related to their occupation. What is the best approach to solve this situation?

My approach to a person who states they have cancer related to their occupation is firstly to ensure the diagnosis, type of cancer including the stage if possible. If the diagnosis is clear, then I would thoroughly explore the patient history including timeline since the person realised the disease.


As cancers are influenced by multi environmental and hereditary factors, some common risk factors related to these diseases will be also explored, such as family history and life style (smoking, alcohol consumptions and other related diet histories). The rational connection between the workplace and the nature of the cancer, the epidemiology, risk factors and aetiology will be also assessed. Then the most important thing is to investigate the occupational exposures that the person believes to be the cause of the cancer. I will ascertain whether there are any substances which the person contacts at work are known to cause the cancer. If there are, I would then start with an Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or label for each substances, and find out how likely those substances gain access to the body.

Then it is important to find out the existing knowledge and evidence related to the association between the exposures and the cancer. Critical analysis should be made before deciding whether the cancer is due to work, and if possible to seek second opinion.