Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Quality of Life of Breast and Cervical Cancer Survivors  
 
Version: 0 Date: 09 Sep 2016  
 
Reviewer: SJ Tamminga  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Review of 'quality of life of breast and cervical cancer survivors and their retu rn to workplace'  
In my opinion this is an very interesting study, I have however, the following major comments:  
 If I am correct, the authors studied two main areas: 1) factors associated with quality of life 
and 2) factors associated with RTW. In my opin ion, these two quite different research 
questions lead to a lengthy manuscript, which is not very specific at some points. For 
instance on page 22 of the discussion section the authors say 'in our study 46% and 58% of 
breast and cervical cancer survivors r eturned to the workplace. The rate of survivors 
returning to work was similar to study of Islam, which reported…43% -93%.' First, Islam et 
al. studied breast cancer survivors only and found a very wide range. Please be more specific 
and elaborate more, do y ou consider it a low or high RTW rate and what might be possible 
explanations and what might be possible solutions? Do we need interventions? If yes, what 
kind of interventions?  
 
 When describing factors associated with RTW please provide the direction of this association 
throughout the manuscript (e.g. older age associated with lower chance of not returning to 
work).  
 
 If I am correct, the design of this study was cross -sectional. If correct, please add and I would 
like to suggest using the STROBE criteri a to improve the writing of the method section.  
 
 Please add a reference after the following sentences:  
 
o Page 4 first sentence 'the International Agendcy … in 2012'  
o Page 5 first sentence 'following cancer diagnosis…improve survival'  
o Page 5 'Whether patients with … are concerned about'  
o Page 8; EORTC modules  
o Page 9; EORTC questionnaires  
o Page 10; 'subsequently .. favorable validity'  
 I would like to suggest adding to the discussion section the following paragraphs:  
 
o Strength and limitations of y our study  
 
o Generalizability of the results to all Taiwanese breast and cervical cancer survivors and to 
other countries  
 
Minor comments:  
o Please add a rationale after the following sentence 'female cancer … influential factors' 
page 4.  
 
o Is any information collected about non -response? If yes, please add.  
 
o Please add on page 14 whether percentages differ significantly.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any st atistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistic al review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold  any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscri pt? 
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I h ave no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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