Affiliations: Disability Research to Practice Program, SEDL, Austin,
TX, USA | Texas Neuro Rehab Center, Austin, TX, USA | Southwest Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Center, Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) Program, TIRR Memorial
Hermann, Houston, TX, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Kathleen M. Murphy, Disability Research to
Practice Program, SEDL, 4700 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723, USA. Tel.: +1 512
476 6861; Fax: +1 512 476 2286; E-mail: Kathleen.Murphy@sedl.org
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Increasingly, people diagnosed with cancer are surviving
and continuing to participate in the work force. This trend brings with it new
issues regarding survivors' employment-related needs. OBJECTIVE: The research team's objective is to explore cancer
survivors' employment-related needs and supports with the ultimate goal of
developing a training intervention for them. METHODS: Data were collected via an online survey. This article
reports on the findings from the pilot stage of the study, which included 32
respondents. RESULTS: Many cancer survivors experience cancer symptoms at work,
but do not tend to seek reasonable accommodations. Levels of awareness of
possible programmatic and legal supports are low. Respondents reported that
neither employers nor medical practitioners are primary sources of information
regarding their individual employment-related concerns. Instead, they relied on
general information from cancer advocacy organizations. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors, employers, and practitioners who treat
cancer patients could benefit from training resources about how survivors might
address their employment-related needs.
Keywords: Disability and cancer, work, reasonable accommodations, Americans with Disabilities Act
