Employment and social benefits up to 10 years after breast cancer diagnosis: a population-based study

Little is known about employment outcomes after breast cancer (BC) beyond the first years after treatment.

Employment outcomes were compared with a general population comparison group (N=91 593) up to 10 years after BC for 26 120 patients, diagnosed before age 55 between 2000-2005, with income and social benefits data from Statistics Netherlands. Treatment effects were studied in 14 916 patients, with information on BC recurrences and new cancer events.

BC survivors experienced higher risk of losing paid employment (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.6, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 1.4-1.8) or any work-related event up to 5-7 years (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.6) and of receiving disability benefits up to 10 years after diagnosis (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6-2.5), with higher risks for younger patients. Axillary lymph node dissection increased risk of disability benefits (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.4-1.7) or losing paid employment (HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.5) during the first 5 years of follow-up. Risk of disability benefits was increased among patients receiving mastectomy and radiotherapy (HR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1-1.3) and after chemotherapy (HR 1.7; 95% CI 1.5-1.9) during the first 5 years after diagnosis.

BC treatment at least partly explains the increased risk of adverse employment outcomes up to 10 years after BC.