.Cancer. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 June 15.Jagsi et al.PageTable 3 presents a multivariable model for CrotalineMedChemExpress Crotaline four-year unemployment. Chemotherapy recipients at the time of diagnosis were Pamapimod chemical information significantly more likely to report unemployment at four years (OR: 1.42, 95 CI: 1.03?.98). Other significant correlates of four-year unemployment were older age (OR 1.42 for age 56+ compared with <46, 95 CI 1.03?1.95), greater comorbidity (OR 2.16 for 2 or more versus none, 95 CI 1.59?.94), and lack of employment support (OR 1.33, 95 CI 1.08?.67). Many women who were not employed in the survivorship period wanted to work. Of the 127 who had not worked since diagnosis, 63 (55 ) reported that it was important for them to work and 39 (39 ) were actively looking for work. These figures were similar for patients who did and did not receive chemotherapy in the initial treatment period: 31 vs 32 were actively looking for work (p=0.96); and 50 vs 49 reported that work remained important to them (p=0.76). Moreover, those who were no longer working were significantly more likely to report that they were worse off regarding their insurance status and financial status, as depicted in Figure 3 (each p<0.001).Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptDiscussionIn this longitudinal survey in two diverse U.S. metropolitan areas, about half of the women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer were of working age and had paid employment at time of diagnosis. We found that nearly a third of those employed before diagnosis were no longer working four years later, and many of these women continued to desire employment. Patients who had received chemotherapy as part of their initial course of therapy were less likely to be working four years after diagnosis than patients who did not receive chemotherapy, after controlling for other factors. Published studies of cancer and employment outcomes have provided limited information about the long-term impact of diagnosis and treatment on breast cancer survivors. In analyses of the Health and Retirement Study (10, 11) and the National Health Interview Study (31), cancer survivors were less likely to work than non-cancer controls. However, absent information on key clinical characteristics such as cancer stage and treatment, the mechanisms by which cancer diagnosis affects long-term employment have remained uncertain. Understanding which subgroups of cancer patients are most vulnerable to long-term work loss is critical for clinicians and policy-makers seeking to develop appropriate interventions (32). In particular, the impact of treatments and social supports are important considerations, as these are potentially modifiable. Previous studies have suggested an important influence of employment support (3, 6, 7, 33) or chemotherapy receipt (21,34?5) on short-term employment outcomes of breast cancer survivors, including missed work, work hours, and short-term job loss. Our results suggest that both of these factors may also have a longlasting negative impact on paid employment. We were particularly interested in chemotherapy as a risk factor for long-term unemployment because of the potential for impact of long-term toxicity such as neuropathy or neurocognitive effects, as well as potential downstream effects of missed work duringCancer. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 June 15.Jagsi et al.Pagetreatment due to acute toxicity. Few other studies have examined the long-term impact o..Cancer. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 June 15.Jagsi et al.PageTable 3 presents a multivariable model for four-year unemployment. Chemotherapy recipients at the time of diagnosis were significantly more likely to report unemployment at four years (OR: 1.42, 95 CI: 1.03?.98). Other significant correlates of four-year unemployment were older age (OR 1.42 for age 56+ compared with <46, 95 CI 1.03?1.95), greater comorbidity (OR 2.16 for 2 or more versus none, 95 CI 1.59?.94), and lack of employment support (OR 1.33, 95 CI 1.08?.67). Many women who were not employed in the survivorship period wanted to work. Of the 127 who had not worked since diagnosis, 63 (55 ) reported that it was important for them to work and 39 (39 ) were actively looking for work. These figures were similar for patients who did and did not receive chemotherapy in the initial treatment period: 31 vs 32 were actively looking for work (p=0.96); and 50 vs 49 reported that work remained important to them (p=0.76). Moreover, those who were no longer working were significantly more likely to report that they were worse off regarding their insurance status and financial status, as depicted in Figure 3 (each p<0.001).Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptDiscussionIn this longitudinal survey in two diverse U.S. metropolitan areas, about half of the women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer were of working age and had paid employment at time of diagnosis. We found that nearly a third of those employed before diagnosis were no longer working four years later, and many of these women continued to desire employment. Patients who had received chemotherapy as part of their initial course of therapy were less likely to be working four years after diagnosis than patients who did not receive chemotherapy, after controlling for other factors. Published studies of cancer and employment outcomes have provided limited information about the long-term impact of diagnosis and treatment on breast cancer survivors. In analyses of the Health and Retirement Study (10, 11) and the National Health Interview Study (31), cancer survivors were less likely to work than non-cancer controls. However, absent information on key clinical characteristics such as cancer stage and treatment, the mechanisms by which cancer diagnosis affects long-term employment have remained uncertain. Understanding which subgroups of cancer patients are most vulnerable to long-term work loss is critical for clinicians and policy-makers seeking to develop appropriate interventions (32). In particular, the impact of treatments and social supports are important considerations, as these are potentially modifiable. Previous studies have suggested an important influence of employment support (3, 6, 7, 33) or chemotherapy receipt (21,34?5) on short-term employment outcomes of breast cancer survivors, including missed work, work hours, and short-term job loss. Our results suggest that both of these factors may also have a longlasting negative impact on paid employment. We were particularly interested in chemotherapy as a risk factor for long-term unemployment because of the potential for impact of long-term toxicity such as neuropathy or neurocognitive effects, as well as potential downstream effects of missed work duringCancer. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 June 15.Jagsi et al.Pagetreatment due to acute toxicity. Few other studies have examined the long-term impact o.
