Short-term employment changes of men newly diagnosed with cancer: well-being of cancer survivors at work study (WeCanWork).

Abstract

Purpose: Employed cancer survivors often work during cancer treatment because work provides social support, income, and, in the United States, health insurance. Many prior studies focus on women and breast cancer. This study enrolled men newly diagnosed with cancer and short-term employment changes.

Methods: A convenience sample of 95 employed men aged 21 to 70 years were recruited. All were newly diagnosed with a malignant solid tumor and received adjuvant treatment. Statistically significant differences were determined using t-tests and chi-squared tests. We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression to estimate the likelihood that employed men reduced weekly hours worked 3 months following diagnosis.

Results: Nearly all employed men enrolled remained working (82%) and working full-time 3 months after initiating adjuvant cancer treatment. Men insured through their employer were more likely to be employed 3 months after starting adjuvant treatment. Among employed men, Hispanic men, those with low educational attainment, and those with low physical work demands (marginal effect =  - 0.16, p < 0.01) were less likely to reduce weekly hours worked.

Conclusions: Employer-based health insurance has an important role in work continuation. Systematic differences in ethnicity, education, and work demands are associated with reduced weekly hours worked.

Implications for cancer survivors: The findings suggest that health insurance through an employer may be a motivator to continue working, most likely to pay for ongoing treatment and offset financial losses. Hispanic men, men with low educational attainment, and men employed in physically demanding jobs may benefit from support services to help navigate work and treatment.