title: Work-related barriers, facilitators, and strategies of breast cancer survivors working during curative treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has identified barriers and facilitators affecting cancer survivors' return to work (RTW) following the end of active treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy). However, few studies have focused on barriers and facilitators that cancer survivors experience while working during active treatment. Strategies used by cancer survivors to solve work-related problems during active treatment are underexplored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe factors that impact, either positively or negatively, breast cancer survivors' work activities during active treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured, recorded interviews were conducted with 35 breast cancer survivors who worked during active treatment. Transcripts of interviews were analyzed using inductive content analysis to identify themes regarding work-related barriers, facilitators and strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Barriers identified included symptoms, emotional distress, appearance change, time constraints, work characteristics, unsupportive supervisors and coworkers, family issues and other illness. Facilitators included positive aspects of work, support outside of work, and coworker and supervisor support. Strategies included activities to improve health-related issues and changes to working conditions and tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast cancer survivors encounter various barriers during active treatment. Several facilitators and strategies can help survivors maintain productive work activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Trace Research and Development Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terhaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wiegmann
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Heidrich
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Amye J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tevaarwerk
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.|Trace Research and Development Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.|University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.|Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sesto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013812:Therapeutics / Q000639:trends*
keywords: Content analysis; accommodation; cancer survivor; technology and tools; working during active treatment