Company Announcement - “Communicate, connect and reach out to friends and colleagues who are living with cancer.” This was the message delivered by cancer patient, Gretha Cook, to Atlas Copco employees on 29th October 2014 as part of the company’s Cancer Awareness Hour. “We decided to share a unique approach to cancer with our employees and dedicated the Cancer Awareness Hour to learn more about the different emotions cancer patients as well as the people around them experience,” explains Kgothatso Masekela, Atlas Copco’s Corporate Communications Manager, who organised the initiative together with Group HR Manager, Wendy Buffa-Pace.

“We invited Gretha to share the feelings and emotions she experienced when she was first diagnosed, during her treatment and when she discovered that the cancer had returned. In order to understand both sides, we also heard from Gretha’s close friend, Charmaine Sheen, who revealed how she handled Gretha’s disease.” Gretha openly shared her own life experience with Atlas Copco employees of how people reacted towards her when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, during treatments and the second diagnosis.  “Emotions are what make us human,” said Gretha, “and yet when we are amidst cancer sufferers we suddenly hide our emotions. When I was first diagnosed I felt very isolated because people who previously communicated with me, suddenly didn’t know what to say to me. They were afraid and didn’t want to talk about my illness and avoided the topic. They did not know how to deal with the situation.”“After my recovery, I could literally hear people breathe a sigh of relief because the ‘elephant in the room’ had now thankfully gone away and they again felt comfortable to talk to me.” Gretha said that when she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time she felt even more isolated “because people were now even more afraid and really did not know what to say to me so they simply stopped talking to me or avoided me. They were unaware that I would have welcomed their communication and would have gladly answered their questions.”

“That is why I am so thankful to Charmaine. She was the one person who actually asked me direct questions. It was so refreshing! The simple question, ‘How are you doing  Gretha?’ meant so much because it opened up a dialogue that enabled me to share exactly how I felt about my condition, both physically and emotionally.” Charmaine, who is General Manager of The Reality Wellness Group that provides services to Atlas Copco as part of the employee wellness programme adopted by the company to provide complete wellness in the workplace, admits that when Gretha told her she has breast cancer, she was afraid for her friend’s longevity. Despite her fears, she continued to ask questions and shared her own feelings about Gretha’s illness. “I had to overcome my fears and really talk to Gretha. Fear immobilises people so they do nothing. I encourage everyone to call friends and talk to colleagues who have cancer. Don’t be afraid to ask them how they are feeling. There is no right or wrong approach, simply making the connection is what is important.”

Gretha and Charmaine’s honest and open presentation was very well received by Atlas Copco employees. “Listening to Gretha’s perspective as a cancer patient on how people react to her was truly insightful. They helped my fellow Atlas Copco employees and I to better understand how important it is to talk to or even just to be there for friends, colleagues and family members who have been diagnosed with cancer because it is a time when they need our support the most,” concludes Kgothatso.