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Employment After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Among Women in the Sister and the Two Sister Studies

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Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose Women undergoing diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer may face challenges in employment. We investigated the impact of demographic, clinical, workplace, and psychosocial characteristics on loss of employment after a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. We further describe changes in work status and work environment for cancer survivors who sustain employment. Methods We analyzed responses from a survey of breast cancer survivors from the Sister Study and the Two Sister Study cohorts who reported being employed at the time of their breast cancer diagnosis and who reported employment status (lost vs. sustained employment) at the time of survey administration. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the effects of lymphedema, neuropathy, problems with memory or attention, social support, health insurance, and sick leave on lost employment, adjusting for demographic characteristics, cancer stage, treatment, and general health. Results Of the 1675 respondents who reported being employed at the time of diagnosis, 83.5% reported being ‘currently’ employed at the time of the survey. Older age, peripheral neuropathy, lack of sick leave, late stage at diagnosis, a recurrence or a new cancer, problems with memory or attention, and poor general health were significantly associated with lost employment. Conclusions The long-term effects of breast cancer treatment and workplace provisions for leave and accommodation may have a substantial effect on women’s ability to sustain employment. The findings from this study highlight challenges reported by cancer survivors that may inform clinical and occupational interventions to support survivors’ return to work.

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Funding

This research was funded, in part, by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Z01 ES-044005). The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web site addresses of nonfederal organizations are provided solely as a service to readers. Provision of an address does not constitute an endorsement of this organization by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of other organizations’ Web pages.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Lucy A. Peipins, Juan L. Rodriguez & Mary C. White

  2. CyberData Technologies, Inc, Herndon, VA, 20170, USA

    Sabitha Dasari

  3. Social and Scientific Systems, Inc, Durham, NC, 27703, USA

    M. Elizabeth Hodgson

  4. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Dale P. Sandler

  5. NCCDPHP/DCPC, Mailstop S-107-4, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Chamblee, GA, 30341-3717, USA

    Lucy A. Peipins

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  1. Lucy A. Peipins
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Correspondence to Lucy A. Peipins.

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Peipins, L.A., Dasari, S., Rodriguez, J.L. et al. Employment After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Among Women in the Sister and the Two Sister Studies. J Occup Rehabil 31, 543–551 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-020-09951-6

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