Abstract: During the past 15 years, the number of colorectal cancer survivors has risen dramatically. While it is unclear how many colorectal cancer survivors were employed at the time of diagnosis, it is reasonable to expect a significant proportion of these survivors were temporarily displaced from the work force. This article describes the return to work experiences of 250 colorectal cancer survivors. The majority (80%) of the survivors were employed at diagnosis and 89% returned to work. Of those who returned to work, 81% sustained employment 5 years postdiagnosis. Results indicate survivors were successful in their attempt to return to work and sustain employment. However, 34% of survivors delayed their return beyond 2 months postdiagnosis. After controlling for ethnicity, education, and disease severity, the reason for delay was related to chemotherapy treatment Prospective studies of colorectal cancer survivors to document barriers to work return can guide interventions and occupational services to keep survivors healthy and in the workplace.
References
1.
American Cancer Society. (2003). Cancer facts and figures 2002, surveillance research.Atlanta, GA: Author.
2.
Ashing-GiwaK., & GanzP.A. (1997). Understanding the breast cancer experience of African American women. Psychosocial Oncology.15(2), 19–35.
3.
BerryD.L. (1993). Return-to-work experiences of people with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 20(6), 905–911.
4.
BradleyC.J., & BednarekH.L. (2002). Employment patterns of long term cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology, 11, 188–198.
5.
BrownK.W., LevyA.R., RosbergerZ., & EdgarL. (2003). Psychological distress and cancer survival: A follow-up 10 years after diagnosis. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 636–643.
6.
BushunowP.W., SunY., RaubertasR.F., & RosenthalS. (1995). Adjuvant chemotherapy does not affect employment in patients with early stage breast cancer. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 10, 73–76.
7.
ChirikosT.N., Russell-JacobsA., & CantorA.B. (2001). Indirect economic effects of long term breast cancer survival. Cancer Practice, 10(5), 248–255.
8.
ChirikosT.N. (2002). Functional impairment and the economic consequences of female breast cancer. Women & Health, 36(1), 1–20.
9.
CodyR.P., & SmithJ.K. (1997). Applied statistics and SAS programming language.Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
10.
FeldmanF.L. (1976). Work and cancer health histories: A study of the experiences of recovered patients.San Francisco: American Cancer Society, California Division.
11.
FeldmanF.L. (1978). Work and cancer health histories: A study of the experiences of recovered blue collar workers.San Francisco: American Cancer Society, California Division.
12.
FullertonH. (1999). Labor force projections to 2008: Steady growth and changing composition. Monthly Labor Review, 122(11), 19–32.
13.
Greenleigh Associates. (1979). Report on the social, economic, and psychological needs of cancer patients in California.San Francisco, CA: American Cancer Society, California Division.
14.
GreenwaldH.P., DirksS.J., BorgattaE.F., McCorkleR., NevittM.C., & YelinE.H. (1989). Work disability among cancer patients. Social Science and Medicine, 9(11), 1253–1259.
15.
GuidryJ.J., AdayL.A., ZhangD., & WinnR.J. (1998). Cost considerations as potential barriers to cancer treatment. Cancer Practice, 6(3), 182–187.
16.
HewittM., RowlandJ.H., & YancikR. (2003). Cancer survivors in the United States: Age, health and disability. Journals of Gerontology, Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 58(1), 82–91.
17.
HoffmanB. (1999). Cancer survivor's employment and insurance rights: A primer for oncologists. Oncology, 13(6), 841–852.
KurtzM.E., KurtzJ.C., StommelM., GivenC.W., & GivenB. (2002). Predictors of depressive symptomatology of geriatric patients with colorectal cancer: A longitudinal view. Support Care Cancer, 10, 494–501.
20.
MackT.M. (1977). Cancer surveillance program in Los Angeles County. NCI Monograph, 47, 99–101.
21.
MaunsellE., BrissonC., DuboisL., LauzierS., & FraserA. (1999). Work problems after breast cancer: An exploratory qualitative study. Psycho-Oncology, 8, 467–473.
22.
MelletteS.J. (1985). The cancer patient at work. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 35(6), 360–373.
National Cancer Institute News. (1998). Survey show employers and employees have misgivings about workers with cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 90(3), 191.
25.
NewtonS.E. (2003). Relationship between depression and work outcomes following liver transplantation: The nursing perspective. Gastroenterology Nursing, 26(2), 68–72.
26.
PeteetJ.R. (2000). Cancer and the meaning of work. General Hospital Psychiatry, 22, 200–205.
27.
PrabhudesalA.G., & KumarD. (2002). Adjuvant therapy of colorectal cancer: The next step forward. Current Medical Research and Opinions, 18(4), 249–257.
28.
RadloffL. (1977). CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.
29.
RamseyS.D., BerryK., MoinpourC., GiedzinskaA., & AndersonM.R. (2002). Quality of life in long term survivors of colorectal cancer. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 97(5), 1228–1234.
30.
RazaviD., DelvauxN., BredartA., AutierP., BronD., DebusscherL., & StryckmansP. (1993). Professional rehabilitation of lymphoma patients: a study of psychosocial factors associated with return to work. Supportive Care in Cancer, 1, 276–278.
31.
RicheM.F. (2001). The demographics of tomorrow's workplace: Pension Research Council working paper (PRC WP 2001-14). Philadelphia: Pension Research Council, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
32.
RowlandJ.H., AzizN., TesauroG., & FeuerE.J. (2001). The changing face of cancer survivorship. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 17(4), 236–240.
33.
SanchezK.M. (2001). The work experiences of colorectal cancer survivors. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
34.
SAS Institute. (1995). Logistic regression examples using the SAS system, version 6 (1st ed.). Cary, NC: Author.
35.
SatarianoW.A., & DeLorenzeG.N. (1996). The likelihood of returning to work after breast cancer. Public Health Reports, 11, 236–243.
36.
SchultzP.N., BeckM.L., StavaC., & SellinR.V. (2002). Cancer survivors: work related issues. AAOHN Journal, 50(5), 220–226.
37.
SpeltonE.R., SpranglersA.G., & VerbeekJ. (2002). Factors reported to influence the return to work of cancer survivors: A literature review. Psycho-Oncology, 11, 124–131.
38.
SpeltonE.R., VerbeekJ.H.A.M., UitterhoeveA.L.J., AnsinkA.C., van der LelieJ., de ReijkeT.M., KammeijerM., de HaesJ.C.J.M., & SprangersM.A.G. (2003). Cancer, fatigue and the return of patients to work - a prospective cohort study. European Journal of Cancer, 39, 1562–1567.
39.
van der WoudenJ.C., Greaves-OtteJ.G.W., KruytPh.M., van LeeuwenO., & van der DoesE. (1992). Occupational reintegration of long-term cancer survivors. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 34(11), 1084–1089.
40.
WareJ.E., SnowK.K., & KosinskiM. (1993/2000). SF-36 health survey: Manual and interpretation guide.Lincoln, RI: Quality Metric.
41.
WatsonS.D. (1990). Saving money and helping people: A multi-method analysis of the employment experiences of cancer survivors (full report).Washington, DC: Washington Business Group on Health.
42.
Waxler-MorrisonN., HislopT.G., MearsB., & KanL. (1991). Effects of social relationships on survival for women with breast cancer A prospective study. Social Science and Medicine, 33(2), 177–183.
43.
WeissmanM.M., ScholomskasO., & PottengerM. (1977). Assessing depression symptoms in the five psychiatric populations: A validity study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 106, 203–214.
