Affiliations: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of
Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA | Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core, Masonic Cancer
Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA | Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's
Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Nancy M. Nachreiner, Division of
Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of
Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Mayo Mail Code 807, Minneapolis, MN 55455,
USA. Tel.: +1 612 625 2487; E-mail: nachr001@umn.edu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Over 91,000 new cases of gynecological cancers are
expected to be diagnosed in 2013 in the US alone. As cancer detection
technology and treatment options improve, the number of working-age cancer
survivors continues to grow. OBJECTIVE: To describe US gynecological cancer survivors'
perceptions of the effects of cancer and treatment on their job tasks. PARTICIPANTS: 104 adult gynecological cancer survivors who were
working at the time of their cancer diagnosis, treated at a University-based
women's health clinic, diagnosed in the previous 24 months, and spoke English.
METHODS: Women completed written surveys to describe their work
experiences following diagnosis. Clinical characteristics were obtained through
medical record review. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were
performed to describe characteristics and associations. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of women had chemotherapy and radiation
treatment; 48% had only chemotherapy, 9% only radiation therapy, and 28% had
neither. Survivors described the frequency of performing seven job tasks, such
as 'intense concentration', 'analyzing data', and 'lifting heavy loads.' Women
who had undergone radiation treatment were more likely to indicate limitations
for physical tasks; women undergoing chemotherapy were more likely to report
limitations in more analytic tasks. Only 29% of women noted an employer-based
policy facilitated their return-to-work process. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer and treatment have important effects on job
performance and may vary by type of treatment. Employer-based policies focusing
on improved communication and work accommodations may improve the return to
work process.
