title: Three-Year Prospective Cohort Study of Factors Associated with Return to Work After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.
abstract: Purpose The purpose of this prospective cohort study of breast cancer survivors was to identify factors before diagnosis, during treatment, and after treatment that are associated with return to work (RTW). Methods A total of 288 women with breast cancer (stage I-III) and whose age were 18-65 years-old answered questionnaires at 4-6, 12, 24, and 36 months after diagnosis. The surveys asked about performance of regular exercise and health-related quality of life issues. "RTW at 36 months" was assigned to patients who reported any of the following: working at least twice; no job at baseline but working more than once; job at baseline, stopped working, and then started working again; and working during all 3 years. Results We classified 107 of 288 of the women (37.1%) as having returned to work. Analysis of pre-diagnostic factors indicated that more education and practice of regular endurance exercise were positively associated with RTW. Analysis of factors during treatment indicated that appetite loss and fatigue were negatively associated with RTW. Analysis of factors at post-treatment indicated that better body image, better physical function, better existential well-being, and participation in regular endurance and resistance exercise were positively associated with RTW. Childbirth at 12-24 months was negatively associated with RTW. Conclusion Women who participate in exercise before, during, and after treatment for breast cancer are more likely to RTW. A woman's need to care for children, perceived body image, and existential well-being may also affect her RTW.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10408, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10408, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Keun Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10408, Republic of Korea. eslee@ncc.re.kr.
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000073116:Cancer Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer rehabilitation; Cancer survivorship; Prospective cohort study; Return to work