2018 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 209-218
This study aimed to clarify cancer survivors’ experiences of changes in employment and the factors affecting their experience, quality of life (QOL) and mental health. We collected data from cancer survivors under 60 years of age (91 men, 269 women) through an Internet survey in December 2012. The results showed that in men, 22% experienced reduced working hours and 11% quit their jobs and in women, 8% experienced reduced working hours and 21% quit their jobs. These differences between males and females were statistically significant (P=0.000, P=0.031). The factors affecting changes in employment in men were being unmarried (P=0.002), a Performance Status (PS) score of more than 1 (P=0.008), and receiving pain treatment (P=0.039). In women, the relevant factors were a PS score of more than 1 (P=0.001) and time since being diagnosed with cancer (P=0.049). Physical and social quality of life were significantly lower in men who had experienced changes in employment, and all aspects of QOL were significantly lower in women who had experienced changes in employment. As for mental health, men and women who experienced changes in employment had significantly lower rates of depression and anxiety than those who experienced no changes. Furthermore, men who experienced changes in employment were significantly more likely to have psychological distress (P=0.027). We concluded that the experiences of changes in employment differed between male and female cancer survivors. Further investigations focusing on employment are therefore considered necessary for all cancer survivors.
