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Supportive Care in Cancer

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Breast Cancer | Original Article

The assessment of returning to work following treatment and the associated personal, disease, and treatment factors among breast cancer survivors in central China

Authors: Min Li, Jinnan Gao, Ming Li, Linying Wang

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 12/2021

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the status of returning to work (RTW) following breast cancer treatment and to explore its associated factors among female patients.

Methods

Four-hundred-forty-two eligible patients admitted in a tertiary hospital since 2012 were followed up in 2018. Information about working status after treatment, date of RTW or reason for not RTW was obtained during a 30-min interview. Patients’ sociodemographic, disease, and treatment characteristics were retrieved from the hospital record. Overall prevalence rate and probability of RTW during the follow-up were estimated using Kaplan–Meier method. Factors associated with RTW were identified using regression analyses.

Results

Three-hundred-ninety-six patients (89.6%) completed the follow-up. The median follow-up was 31 months. Among them, 141 patents (35.6%) RTW of whom 68.1% (n = 96) were back within 12 months after cancer treatment. The reported reasons for not RTW included: prolonged fatigue, low self-esteem, lack of support from family and working unit, or voluntarily quitting. Patients aged under 50 years, being single, having higher level of education, not having extensive axillary node procedure, or without any comorbidities were more likely to RTW.

Conclusion

The rate of RTW after cancer treatment in this cohort was lower than those reported in others. Both personal and treatment factors were associated with RTW.

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Title: The assessment of returning to work following treatment and the associated personal, disease, and treatment factors among breast cancer survivors in central China
Authors: Min Li
Jinnan Gao
Ming Li
Linying Wang
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 12/2021
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06354-y

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