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Work absence after breast cancer diagnosis: a population-based study
Mélanie Drolet1, Elizabeth Maunsell, Myrto Mondor
1Unité de recherche en santé des populations, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire de Québec, Quebec, Qué.
Summary
Most breast cancer patients took significant time off work after diagnosis. However, disease-free survivors were not absent more than healthy women three years later, indicating work absence is often temporary.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Work absence is a significant burden for cancer patients, yet understudied.
- Limited research exists on the long-term work absence patterns of breast cancer survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the duration and frequency of work absences among women with breast cancer.
- To compare work absences in breast cancer survivors with those of women without a cancer history.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study in Quebec comparing 646 breast cancer patients with 890 age-matched women without cancer.
- Telephone interviews were conducted 3 years post-diagnosis for both groups.
Main Results:
- One year post-diagnosis, 85% of disease-free breast cancer survivors experienced prolonged work absence (≥4 weeks) versus 18% of controls (mean duration 5.6 vs. 1.7 months).
- Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly increased absence duration.
- Self-employed survivors and those not in a union were more likely to report no work absence.
Conclusions:
- Breast cancer diagnosis often leads to substantial initial work absence, averaging nearly six months.
- Disease-free survivors showed no increased work absence compared to controls by the third year, suggesting recovery of work participation.