Employment and retirement status of older cancer survivors compared to non-cancer siblings

Abstract

Background The effect of cancer on employment and retirement status in an older work force is not well understood. This study examines whether cancer survivors were less likely to be working than a sibling comparison group. Objectives To compare work-related variables between older cancer survivors and a group of non-cancer sibling controls. A secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of cancer site and time since cancer diagnosis on work-related variables. Methods Data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) were used to assess work outcomes in cancer survivors (+CA, n=539, mean age=65.81, SD=4.75 years) and non-cancer sibling controls (−CA, n=539, mean age=63.95, SD=5.31 years). Results Survivors (+CA group) were more likely to report not working (61.8%) and to be completely retired (55%) than the −CA group (48.3% not employed; 42% retired). Controlling for age, gender and education, this effect persisted with the +CA group more likely to be not working (OR=1.40; 95% CI=1.08 to 1.83) and completely retired (OR=1.36; 95% CI=1.05 to 1.77) than the −CA group. Neither time since diagnosis nor cancer site affected work outcomes. Conclusions In this study, older +CA survivors were less likely to be working and more likely to be completely retired than −CA sibling controls. Future research should evaluate factors affecting work status among older cancer survivors.

Factors Related to Employment Situation among Korean Cancer Survivors: Results from a Population-Based Study

“…In our study, participants in 20/30s and 40/50s, who represent the relatively younger groups, had increased odds of being employed compared to the older group of those 60 years old and above. This finding is in line with the results of previous studies (Schultz et al, 2002;Sesto et al, 2013;Yoo et al, 2013;Kim et al, 2014). For the older age group it is more likely for the diagnosis of cancer to occur at the same time as their retirement or at a time at which they are trying to reduce the intensity of their work.…”

“…However, Kim et al, (2014) reported that the difference due to gender and employment status were not significantly associated. Furthermore, many studies conducted in Western countries report that gender does not affect their employment situation (Spelten et al, 2002;Sesto et al, 2013;Tevaarwerk et al, 2016). In our study, participants in 20/30s and 40/50s, who represent the relatively younger groups, had increased odds of being employed compared to the older group of those 60 years old and above.…”

“…Previous studies, in which the relationship between employment status and type of cancer were addressed, show different results. That is, cancers of the liver (Choi et al, 2007), breast (Sesto et al, 2013), prostate (Sesto et al, 2013), and colon (Taskila and Lindbohm, 2007;Sesto et al, 2013) were not significantly associated with employment, whereas liver (Park et al, 2009), pancreas (Park et al, 2009), lung (Schultz et al, 2002;Taskila and Lindbohm, 2007;Park et al, 2009), blood and lymph (Taskila and Lindbohm, 2007;Park et al, 2009), head and neck (Schultz et al, 2002), and central nervous system cancers (Taskila and Lindbohm, 2007;Park et al, 2009) were related to a lower chance of employment. The types of cancer that negatively affected chances of employment were associated with lower chances of survival, were more DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.1.33 Employment Situation among Cancer Survivors focalized and had a higher chance of requiring systemic treatments.…”

Labor market situation after an episode of sickness absence due to malignant neoplasia. Evidence from a Spanish cohort

“…Relevant determinants for future unemployment risk among cancer survivors are location, sex and age, together with unemployment prior the cancer diagnosis, low educational level, manual work, comorbidity or perceived discrimination at the workplace [5, 10, 11]. Moreover, in the years following a cancer diagnosis, survivors are among 40–60% more likely to go on early retirement [12, 13]. Compared to healthy population, cancer survivors have showed to be more likely to have extended or repeated periods of sickness absence (SA) and increased risk for disability pension [14].…”

“…Compared to healthy population, cancer survivors have showed to be more likely to have extended or repeated periods of sickness absence (SA) and increased risk for disability pension [14]. Apart from those factors directly related to the disease, old age, low income and low educational level, living alone, having comorbidities and sickness absence benefits in the previous year might also play a role [12–14]. Prior research focused on cancer and labor market participation used dichotomized outcome measures, simplifying the potential consequences of a cancer disease in future working life [11].…”