title: Strategies used by breast cancer survivors to address work-related limitations during and after treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The primary objective of this exploratory study was to delineate the broad range of adjustments women breast cancer survivors draw upon to minimize cancer-related limitations at the workplace. The study also analyzed whether survivors used strategies to address work-related limitations in isolation or in combination with other strategies, and whether they used formal or informal strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 women who were employed at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer and who continued to work during treatment or returned to work. Interviews were conducted 3 to 24 months after diagnosis. An iterative process was used to systematically analyze the data (the transcripts) using qualitative methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants who worked during or after treatment adjusted their work schedule, performed fewer or other tasks, modified or changed their work environment, reduced non-work activities at the workplace, used cognitive prompts, and acted preemptively to make work tasks manageable after their return to work. Survivors used multiple adjustments and drew upon both formal and informal tactics to minimize or prevent cancer- or treatment-related effects from negatively affecting job performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge about the broad range of both formal and informal strategies identified in this study may enable health care and social services providers, as well as cancer survivors and employers, to identify a wide range of specific strategies that may reduce the negative effects of work-related limitations in specific work settings. Insights gained from this analysis should inform future research on work and cancer survivorship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Electronic address: joanne.sandberg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joanne C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strom
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*