Abstract　The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the working situation derived from the findings of research studies on cancer patients, and to explore the possibilities of support systems towards employment of patients with cancer from the viewpoint of the health care staff.

The literature review used the Ichushi‐Web （Ver .５）, limiting the search to only original papers using the following keywords:“cancer" and “working", “cancer" and “working support", “cancer" and “job". Moreover, the review included dissertation studies and excluded papers focused on pediatric patients with cancer, papers designed for medical staff, and case reports.

From these inclusion and exclusion criteria, only ２５ research papers remained. These were all focused on the actual conditions of working situations of patients with cancer, and the factors affecting the continuation of working by the patients with cancer. An astounding finding was that actual status of employment for patients with cancer was dictated by the status of their cancer treatments. They tended to leave their employment early, often before cancer treatment began. Factors that were found crucial to the characteristics are ［Physical adjustment］ ［Information acquisition］ ［Value for working］ ［Support system］ ［Consideration of workplace］ ［Economic situation］ influencing the viewpoint for the continuation of work for patients with cancer. Health care professionals need to understand that the social trends and policies, including the activities being carried out at places of employment are important towards the coordination of treatment and further employment of the patient with cancer. It is suggested that it is necessary to construct an intervention program that supports many types of workers, but most especially those patients with cancer.

The objective of this study was to clarify the concerns of family members who were living at home with the patients who have been diagnosed with recurring or metastatic cancer, and are receiving outpatient chemotherapy. The study also examined ways of supporting patients who were diagnosed with cancer, and their families. Semi‐structured interviews were performed with ten patients with cancer, and twelve family members who were receiving chemotherapy at the outpatient. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive study design. Findings of the study revealed that the concerns of patients with cancer can be categorized into five factors, namely:［Various side effects of treatments］, ［The burden of cancer treatment］［The magnitude of the burden on the family］［The mind and body are not transmitted to family］［Fear of having cancer recurrence or metastasis］. The family's concerns can be classified into five categories, namely:［Patient suffering from side effects］［Invisible prognosis of cancer treatment］［Burden of responsibility to support the patient's fight against the disease］［Suffering from cancer recurrence and metastasis］［Inability to relate to the patient］. However, nurses understand that cancer patients and their families who may have relapsed/metastasized cancer will have greater demands for care, and many family members will have more worries while living life.

Underlying the patient's and family's concerns are the uncertainty of illness caused by cancer and is likely to cause a divide. Between diagnosis and treatment concerns, early diagnosis was found to be consistent with existing treatment protocols promoting early diagnosis to have timely support, including respecting the patient and their family's values. It is important to understand the situation of patients and their families.