In total, more than 70 women with breast cancer and 103 people with other forms of cancer have called the DRC Helpline complaining of problems with their employers.

(...)

Among callers with other cancers, the overwhelming majority (82%) cited employers failing to make reasonable adjustments that would keep them in work. Nearly one in five callers reported having been dismissed.  A further 13% of callers complained of facing threats of dismissal and nearly 6% of callers were facing disciplinary action.

These kind of issues frequently arise with most disabilities, often due to the assumption that any reasonable adjustments would be a hassle and cost a fortune, which actually is rarely the case. So employers just give people the boot.

The Disability Discrimination Act itself came into force in a staggered way, and each time there was an overwhelming ignorance and lack of preparation to meet the requirements.  Unfortunately it doesn't surprise me at all that employers are not aware that that they can no long just sack people with cancer.  The Amendment also covers people with HIV and with Multiple Sclerosis.

There's also a lack of awareness in the general population as to what their rights actually are, and what they can do if they've been treated unlawfully at work - which just gives even more leeway for unscrupulous employers to go ahead with exploiting and devaluing their employees.