Long-Term Employment Outcomes among Female Cancer Survivors.

Christine C Ekenga,Sojung Park,Eunsun Kwon,Borin Kim

doi:10.3390/ijerph17082751

Abstract

Advances in early detection and treatment have led to a growing population of female cancer survivors, many of whom are of working age. We examined the relationship between cancer and long-term (>5 years) employment outcomes in a nationally representative sample of working-age women in the United States. Data from nine waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used to examine employment status and weekly hours worked among cancer survivors (n = 483) and women without cancer (n = 6605). We used random slope regression models to estimate the impact of cancer and occupation type on employment outcomes. There was no difference in employment status between cancer survivors and women without cancer at baseline; however, during follow-up, cancer survivors were more likely to be employed than women without cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–1.58). Among 6–10-year survivors, professional workers were less likely (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.74) to be employed than manual workers. Among >10-year survivors, professional workers averaged fewer weekly hours worked (−2.4 h, 95% CI: −4.4–−0.47) than manual workers. The impact of cancer on long-term employment outcomes may differ by occupation type. Identifying the occupation-specific mechanisms associated with the return to work will be critical to developing targeted strategies to promote employment in the growing female cancer survivor population.

Highlights

In the United States (U.S.), adult cancer survival rates have improved markedly over the past four decades [1]
Cancer survivors were significantly different from women without a cancer history with regard to their race/ethnicity, education, marital status, occupation, household income and health status
In unadjusted analyses, cancer survivors had a higher percentage of employment and a higher average number of hours worked per week than women without a history of cancer

Summary

Introduction

In the United States (U.S.), adult cancer survival rates have improved markedly over the past four decades [1]. Driven primarily by improved methods for detection and treatment, survival rates have increased by almost 40% since the late 1970s [1,2]. Approximately 67% of cancer patients survive five or more years after diagnosis [1,2], and survival rates are expected to continue to increase, because of ongoing advances in early diagnosis and treatment options and public health intervention efforts [1,2]. The late and long-term effects of cancer range from physical to psychosocial and economic [4]. The adverse health effects of cancer can negatively influence the economic well-being of long-term survivors. In comparison to long-term physical and psychosocial outcomes, the economic sequelae associated with cancer and its related treatments are less well investigated.

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Discussion

Conclusion