Affiliations: Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska
Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society,
Division of Social Work, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Department of Oncology, Karolinska University
Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden | Department of Social Work, Karolinska University
Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden | Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Aina Johnsson, Karolinska
Institutet, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83
Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8 616 38 38; Fax: +46 8 616 44 88; E-mail:
aina.johnsson@karolinska.se
Abstract: Objective: The aims of this study were to generate new knowledge
about factors predicting return to work (RTW) among women treated for
early-stage breast cancer, and about changes in life satisfaction, and coping,
and to examine the association between these concepts and RTW. Methods and Participants: A cohort of 102 women aged 18–64 were assessed six weeks, six
months, and ten months after surgery using data from questionnaires and medical
files. Results: Factors independently predicting no RTW at six months
were: chemotherapy, > 30 days of sick leave during the previous 12 months,
low satisfaction with activities of daily living, and not having been born in
Sweden. No RTW at ten months was predicted by irradiation to breast/chest wall
and regional nodes, and low satisfaction with vocational situation. Global life
satisfaction was higher among the working women, both six months after surgery
and ten months after surgery. The working women used more positive coping
resources as compared to the sick-listed women, particularly sick-listed women
treated with chemotherapy. Conclusion: Factors associated with RTW appear
to include not only treatment-related factors such as chemotherapy and
irradiation, but also psychosocial factors such as life satisfaction and coping
resources. With increased understanding of the complex factors related to RTW
after a breast cancer diagnosis, it will be possible to identify and support
survivors who are at risk of being marginalized from the labor market.
Keywords: Breast neoplasm, sick leave, chemotherapy, adjuvant, personal satisfaction, coping styles, return to work
