Breast Cancer Survivors Report Similar Concerns Related to Return to Work in Developed and Developing Nations

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Occupational Health
• Psychosocial Studies

Background:

• Returning to work after cancer treatment presents unique challenges for survivors.
• Existing research on return to work (RTW) primarily focuses on developed nations with established policies.
• The experiences of breast cancer survivors (BCS) in rapidly developing economies remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the return to work challenges faced by breast cancer survivors in China.
• To compare these challenges with those reported in developed countries.
• To understand the impact of workplace responses on BCS RTW.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 breast cancer survivors who had returned to work.
• Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to analyze interview data.
• Focus on experiences following diagnosis and/or primary cancer treatment.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: challenges from residual treatment effects, varied employer/supervisor responses, and diverse co-worker reactions.
• Survivors reported symptom burden and cognitive limitations impacting their work.
• Both supportive and unsupportive workplace interactions were experienced.

Conclusions:

• Breast cancer survivors experience similar return to work challenges in both rapidly developing and developed nations.
• Workplace policies alone do not eliminate RTW challenges for a subgroup of BCS.
• Findings underscore the international nature of RTW difficulties and advocate for global workplace intervention development.