Return to Work Among Cancer Survivors With Treatment-induced Survivorship Syndromes
Condition: Gynecologic Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Radiation Toxicity; Malignancy; Radiotherapy Side Effect; Radiation Injuries; Cancer Survivors; Radiation Syndrome
MeSH terms: Syndrome; Radiation Injuries
Study type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Summary: 
      The investigators plan to investigate the consequences of late effects (radiation-induced
      survivorship syndromes) after radiotherapy in Gynecological and Prostate cancer survivors on
      return to work (Yes/No) and if RTW happened then time to RTW.

      In addition, whether general health, type of work (occupation), work environment factors,
      individual factors (lifestyle, socioeconomic status etc.), contribute to the adverse late
      effects of radiotherapy and these Gynecological cancer survivors have a higher risk for
      disability pension/long term sickness absence (NOT Return to work).
    

Detailed description: 
      Occurrence of cancer diagnoses are rising, and both disease and treatments are aggressive.
      Due to advancement in medical technology, improved therapy and/or early detection the overall
      survival rates are also improving.

      Some of the most common cancer types, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical
      cancer, and colorectal cancer have high cure rates when detected early and treated according
      to best practices. Many of these cancer survivors are of working age and are likely to return
      to work. Women who survive cervical cancer and men who survive testicular cancer typically
      have three to four decades left in working life.

      However, return to work (RTW) among cancer survivors may not be similar to RTW among
      long-term sickness absentees due to other diagnoses. Cancer is a life threatening disease and
      cancer diagnose is a life changing event. The emotional shock after the cancer diagnosis may
      be associated with low psychological well-being even two years after prostate cancer surgery.

      The successful cancer treatment concludes with the lifelong consequences of surgery,
      irradiation, cytotoxic chemotherapy, biological anticancer substances or other drugs in the
      treatment. The ionizing radiation that eliminates malignant cells may trigger long-lasting
      pathophysiological processes in the normal tissue and affect the health of the survivors with
      lifelong treatment-induced survivorship diseases. In a recent study, Steineck et al,
      identified five radiation-induced survivorship syndromes affecting bowel health in a cohort
      of gynecological cancer; urgency syndrome (30%), leakage syndrome (26%), excessive gas
      discharge(15%), excessive mucus discharge (16%) and blood discharge (10%).

      There is a lack of knowledge about how these side effects of cancer treatment affect the
      degree of work ability and return to work. Clinical experience suggests that many cancer
      survivors have reduced work ability. There is a need for scientific studies that shed light
      on the side effects of cancer treatment and their relation to work ability.
    

Intervention name(s): Radiotherapy
Intervention type(s): Radiation
Intervention description(s): Radiotherapy as part of cancer treatment
Observational model: Case-Only
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Cohort of women treated with external pelvic radiotherapy for a gynaecological malignancy
        and men treated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer at two large oncology clinics in
        Sweden.
      
Keywords: Return to work; Disability pension; Sickness Absence; Employability; Fitness to work; Wellbeing; Radiotherapy Side Effect; Cancer Survivors