Planning for return to work during the first year after breast cancer metastasis: A Swedish cohort study

Planning for return to work (RTW) is relevant among sub-groups of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) survivors. RTW and protective factors for RTW in patients with mBC were determined.

Patients with mBC, ages 18-63 years, were identified in Swedish registers, and data were collected starting 1 year before their mBC diagnosis. The prevalence of working net days (WNDs) (>90 and >180) during the year after mBC diagnosis (y1) was determined. Factors associated with RTW were assessed using regression analysis. The impact of contemporary oncological treatment of mBC on RTW and 5-year mBC-specific survival was compared between those diagnosed in 1997-2002 and 2003-2011.

Of 490 patients, 239 (48.8%) and 189 (36.8%) had >90 and >180 WNDs, respectively, during y1. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of WNDs >90 or >180 during y1 were significantly higher for patients with age ≤50 years (AOR₁₈₀  = 1.54), synchronous metastasis (AOR₉₀  = 1.68, AOR₁₈₀  = 1.67), metastasis within 24 months (AOR₁₈₀  = 1.51), soft tissue, visceral, brain as first metastatic site (AOR₉₀  = 1.47) and sickness absence <90 net days in the year before mBC diagnosis, suggesting limited comorbidities (AOR₉₀  = 1.28, AOR₁₈₀  = 2.00), respectively. Mean (standard deviation) WNDs were 134.9 (140.1) and 161.3 (152.4) for patients diagnosed with mBC in 1997-2002 and 2003-2011, respectively (p = 0.046). Median (standard error) mBC-specific survivals were 41.0 (2.5) and 62.0 (9.6) months for patients diagnosed with mBC in 1997-2002 and 2003-2011, respectively (p < 0.001).

RTW of more than 180 WNDs was associated with younger age, early development of metastases and limited comorbidities during the year before the diagnosis of mBC. Patients diagnosed with mBC in 2003 or later had more WNDs and better survival than those diagnosed earlier.