June 2014

Cancer. 2014 Apr 28. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28607. [Epub ahead of print]

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on long-term employment of survivors of early-stage breast cancer

Jagsi R, Hawley ST, Abrahamse P, Li Y, Janz NK, Griggs JJ, Bradley C, Graff JJ, Hamilton A, Katz SJ

In this longitudinal, USA based, multicenter cohort survey of 746 women diagnosed with stage I, II or III breast cancer between 2005 and 2007, employment 4 years post-diagnosis was evaluated. The final sample were women who were less than 65 years old at the time of diagnosis, in whom the breast cancer did not recur, who replied to both baseline and 4-year follow-up surveys, and who had paid employment at time of diagnosis. Of these, 30% were no longer working at 4 years post-treatment. Furthermore, only 27% who received initial treatment with chemotherapy were working at 4 years, compared to 38% of those who were not initially treated with chemotherapy. From those who were not employed during this period 55% reported that it was important for them to work and 39% were looking for work. The authors suggest that future employment should be taken into account to decide whether to give adjuvant chemotherapy, particularly when the expected benefit is low.

Prepared by Jason Boland