Time to act: The challenges of working during and after cancer, initiatives in research and practice

Abstract

A diagnosis of cancer has a significant impact on work and employment. With improvements in cancer treatments more people are surviving longer, and it is estimated that there are approximately 700,000 people of working age with cancer in the UK (Maddams et al., 2009). For cancer survivors, the ability to work is important to maintaining social relationships, selfesteem and psychological well-being. A recent systematic review and meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature on employment and cancer (Wells et al., 2013) found consistent evidence that individuals' experiences of 'return to work' were strongly influenced by the degree to which cancer affected four key factors: self-identity, meaning and significance of work, family and financial context, and work environment. Work often helped people to reestablish normality and a sense of their former selves, but at the same time, self-identity was challenged by the physical and emotional consequences of cancer treatment, as well as others' reactions to changes in appearance, physical or cognitive ability. The meaning and significance that individuals had attached to work before cancer frequently shifted, as they re-evaluated their capabilities and priorities. The influence of financial pressures and family or friends towards maintaining or changing work consistently played a part, and the difficulties of negotiating sick pay, benefits and insurance were frequently mentioned.Finally, the organisational and interpersonal support received within the work environment played a particularly important role in enabling people to talk about and manage the

The quality of working life questionnaire for cancer survivors (QWLQ-CS): factorial structure, internal consistency, construct validity and reproducibility

“…By 2025, cancer incidence is expected to rise to 19.3 million cases worldwide [ 1 ]. As new treatments and screening instruments increase the chances of surviving cancer [ 2 ] and as more people work longer, an increasing number of cancer survivors are continuing to work or returning to employment [ 3 ]. Unfortunately, cancer survivors can encounter difficulties at work.…”

Work ability among employees 2–10 years beyond breast cancer diagnosis: Late treatment effects and job resources - A longitudinal study

“…All in all, the present study contributes to research in the field of work and cancer, being the first longitudinal study into the late effects of cancer treatment and job resources on work ability among employees who have returned to work after experiencing a breast cancer diagnosis 2 to 10 years ago. Longitudinal designs are necessary to investigate possible targets for interventions to help retain occupational life [53] and to therefore preserve or enhance work ability within this population. The present study addresses this need.…”

Identification of actions to be taken by managers to facilitate the return to work of cancer survivors: Consensus between managers and cancer survivors

“…Returning to work after cancer is considered a desirable outcome, both from an individual, as well as an organizational and societal point of view [5,6]. For cancer survivors themselves, a successful return to work (RTW) is essential for regaining a sense of normalcy, improving self-esteem, providing financial security, and maintaining social relationships [6][7][8][9]. It is, however, a complex and multifactorial process requiring the participation of many stakeholders, including the cancer survivors themselves, healthcare professionals, family, and involving both the social and professional environment [10][11][12].…”