Returning to work after treatment for breast cancer.

Abstract

e11572 Background: Relatively few studies have assessed the association of cancer survivorship with unemployment, and return to work (RTW) after the diagnosis of breast cancer remind still a problem. Methods: In the present study the treating physician or psychoncologist recruited patients before the start of initial treatment, in the period from August 2007 to January 2008 at our institution. 76 of 112 consecutive patients with early breast cancer admitted to our outpatient medical oncology accepted to participate this study and to complete the interviews; all patients were interviewed at diagnosis and after 1, 3, 6, 9, 18 and 24 months. Clinical and psychological data including diagnosis, stage, age, anxiety, depression, treatment planned, job at diagnosis were recorded for each patient. Results: After 1 month from diagnosis, 45% of patients stopped work and after 3 to 9 months 55.3% of patients stopped work. In our group of patients, 77.9% of them had full RTW after a median delay of 10.3 months; anxiety and depression seem affect employment by decreasing work hours, and increasing absence. Age > 55 years, chemotherapy, physical and psychological status were the major factors affecting the return to work, while type of surgery, sentinel lymphnode biopsy or axillary dissection, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy did not negatively influence the return to work. Conclusions: People treated for cancer have reported a variety of problems at work. Also the importance of social support from the workplace in relation to sickness absence in general is well documented and more recently the importance of social support from the employer and coworkers for the return to work, was demonstred. Work is important for individual’s identity and provides also a social connection, however the experience of continuing or returning to work following cancer and related treatment is a largely unknown area of cancer research.