Employment status among cancer survivors in a Late Effects Clinic in Denmark.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate changes in employment status among disease-free working-age cancer survivors (CSs) with late effects from diagnosis to their first meeting in the Late Effects Clinic (LEC) and investigate associated patient-reported outcomes of reduced employment status.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a cohort of CSs followed in a LEC at a single institution from January, 2022, to March, 2023. Working-age CSs with no current evidence of active cancer were included in this study. CSs completed a baseline questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-SURV100) before their initial consultation. Reduced employment status was defined as transition from being in paid work at diagnosis to working fewer hours or not at all at the first visit. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used.

Results: A total of 119 CSs with diverse cancer types with a mean age of 51 years (range 26 to 70) were included in this study. Eighty percent were female. Of 93 CSs in paid work at diagnosis, 66 (71%) have reduced employment status. Reduced employment status was associated with lower role functioning score (β = -12.3, p = 0.046), higher loss of income score (β = 35.1, p = 0.001), and lower Global health status score (β = - 8.3, p = 0.05).

Conclusions: This study shows that the majority of CSs seen in the LEC have reduced employment status. This is associated with impaired quality of life.

Implications for cancer survivors: Identifying and treating late effects early in cancer survivorship are important to secure CSs' labour market attachment and, thus, their financial and social well-being.