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Return to work after upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery: questionnaire-based observational study
Tatsuma Sakaguchi1, Takuya Fukushima2, Nobuyuki Yamamoto1
1Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan.
International Journal of Clinical Oncology
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Most upper gastrointestinal cancer patients return to work within six months after surgery. While older age was initially linked to lower return-to-work rates, this was explained by employment status, not age itself.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Cancer Survivorship
Background:
- Return to work (RTW) is a critical aspect of cancer survivorship.
- Limited evidence exists regarding RTW following upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors influencing return to work after upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
- To identify the timeline and predictors of RTW in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based observational study was conducted.
- Eligible patients had undergone surgery with curative intent for upper gastrointestinal cancer and were employed at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Of 207 employed patients, 144 (70%) returned to work.
- Younger patients were more likely to return to work, but this was linked to employment status (full-time/part-time).
- Eighty-five percent of patients who returned to work did so within six months post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- The majority of patients resume work within six months after upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
- Occupational and social factors significantly influence RTW, with age potentially acting as a proxy for these circumstances.
- Individualized survivorship care and prompt RTW support are valuable for patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
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