Background: Cancer survivors are at a higher risk of leaving the labour market prematurely than healthy individuals or those with other chronic conditions. They continue to report difficulty in re-entering the workplace after diagnosis and treatment.
Aims: To investigate return to work in health care staff with a diagnosis of breast cancer and the adjustments required to assist them.
Methods: We identified health care workers with a diagnosis of breast cancer, seen by occupational physicians in a National Health Service occupational health (OH) service, between 2000 and 2012. Review of OH records was conducted and information relating to return to work and sick leave was recorded.
Results: One hundred and seventeen staff members were identified, and 111 (95%) returned to work. Almost all (109) required workplace adjustments to do so: 97 had temporary adjustments and 12 permanent changes. The majority of those who returned to work (98) did so within 1 year.
Conclusions: This study showed a higher return to work rate in the first year, following treatment for breast cancer, than described previously. Workplace adjustments, recommended by an occupational physician, were provided for the majority.
Keywords: Absence; employment; occupational rehabilitation; retirement; survivorship..
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