We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Early work patterns for gynaecological cancer survivors in the USA.
- Authors
Nachreiner, N. M.; Ghebre, R. G.; Virnig, B. A.; Shanley, R.
- Abstract
Background Little is known about the balance between work demands and treatment plans for >4.3 million working-age cancer survivors in the USA.Aims To describe changes in work status for gynaecological cancer survivors during the first 6 months following diagnosis and their experience with their employers’ programmes and policies.Methods One hundred and ten gynaecological cancer survivors who were working at the time of their cancer diagnosis completed a survey. Case record reviews documented their clinical characteristics and treatment details.Results Ninety-five women (86%) had surgery; 81 (74%) received chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both in addition to surgery. Nine per cent of women said that they changed their treatment plan because of their jobs; in contrast, 62% of women said that they changed their work situation to accommodate their treatment plan. Overall, the most common month for women to stop working was Month 1 (41%), to decrease hours was Month 2 (32%) and to increase hours was Month 6 (8%). Twenty-eight per cent of women were aware of employer policies that assisted the return to work process; 70% of women were familiar with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and 56% with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Only 26% completed a formal request for work accommodations. After 6 months, 56 of 83 women (67%) remained working or had returned to work.Conclusions Work patterns varied for these gynaecological cancer survivors over the first 6 months following diagnosis. Opportunities exist to improve communication about work and treatment expectations between cancer survivors, occupational health professionals, employers and treating clinicians.
- Subjects
UNITED States; GYNECOLOGIC cancer; INDUSTRIAL hygiene; DIAGNOSIS of cancer in female reproductive organs; CANCER radiotherapy; CANCER chemotherapy; WOMEN employees; OCCUPATIONAL physicians; AMERICANS with Disabilities Act of 1990; ONCOLOGIC surgery; DISEASES; CANCER treatment
- Publication
Occupational Medicine, 2012, Vol 62, Issue 1, p23
- ISSN
0962-7480
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/occmed/kqr177