title: When breast cancer survivors report cognitive problems at work.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer survivors (BCS) who wish to stay actively employed following primary treatment of cancer may experience cognitive problems at work. Management of these cognitive problems may need to focus on associated symptoms. The current study determined whether fatigue and depressive symptoms, which can co-occur with one another, are independently and/or interactively related to cognitive limitations at work.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted. BCS (n = 133) and a non-cancer comparison group (NCCG; n = 122) completed measures of work-related cognitive limitations, fatigue, and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three years post primary treatment, BCS reported higher levels of fatigue (p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (p = 0.001), and work related cognitive limitations (p = 0.001) than the NCCG. Fatigue and depressive symptoms were each independently associated with cognitive limitations in both those with and without a history of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When BCS report problems with cognitive abilities at work along with fatigue and depressive symptoms, it is important to recognize that these symptoms can be independently related to cognitive limitations. This study also suggests that management of symptoms of fatigue and depression may benefit from different approaches when improvement in cognitive function at work is a desired outcome.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Briana L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Feuerstein
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feuerstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment; D056344:Executive Function; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace