Breast cancer and work outcomes in health care workers

Cancer survivors are at a higher risk of leaving the labour market prematurely than healthy individuals or those with other chronic conditions. They continue to report difficulty in re-entering the workplace after diagnosis and treatment.

To investigate return to work in health care staff with a diagnosis of breast cancer and the adjustments required to assist them.

We identified health care workers with a diagnosis of breast cancer, seen by occupational physicians in a National Health Service occupational health (OH) service, between 2000 and 2012. Review of OH records was conducted and information relating to return to work and sick leave was recorded.

One hundred and seventeen staff members were identified, and 111 (95%) returned to work. Almost all (109) required workplace adjustments to do so: 97 had temporary adjustments and 12 permanent changes. The majority of those who returned to work (98) did so within 1 year.

This study showed a higher return to work rate in the first year, following treatment for breast cancer, than described previously. Workplace adjustments, recommended by an occupational physician, were provided for the majority.