title: A cohort study of permanently reduced work ability in breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this cohort study were to explore various longitudinal aspects of employment and disability pension due to permanently reduced work ability among women with breast cancer and to investigate the impact of breast cancer on income.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a national register-based controlled cohort study from Norway, 1,548 women diagnosed with breast cancer (all stages) between 1992 and 1996 at the age 45-54 years and 1,548 cancer-free women matched for age, municipality and civil status were followed for up to 14 years. Medical data from the Cancer Registry of Norway were linked with longitudinal data on employment, social security benefits and socio-demography collected from other national official registries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to cancer-free controls, breast cancer patients were significantly more likely to receive disability pension (hazard ratio (HR) 2.7, 95% CI 2.3-3.2) after adjustment for unmatched socio-demographic variables (education, income and children <18 years in the household). Adjusted HR in breast cancer stage I patients was 1.8 (95% CI 1.5-2.3) and 3.0 (95% CI 2.4-3.8) in stage II/III patients compared to controls. The risk increased with mastectomy compared to breast-conserving surgery (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9). At the end of the observation period, employment rates were higher in non-disabled patients than in non-disabled controls (82% vs. 77%, p = 0.008). Working breast cancer patients experienced a temporary negative effect on employment income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A considerable proportion of women with breast cancer will over time experience permanently reduced work ability and become disability pension holders. In case of reduced work ability in breast cancer survivors, medical personel caring for them should consider and discuss with them rehabilitation and workplace adjustment in order to prevent early disability pension.
authors.affiliation: National Resource Center for Late Effects, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. beate.hauglann@gmail.com
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hauglann
authors.forename: Jūratė Šaltytė
authors.initials: JŠ
authors.lastname: Benth
authors.forename: Sophie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.forename: Alv A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009664:Norway; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010415:Pensions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*