Abstract 805: Employment characteristics and work ability differences by race and income before undergoing curative treatment for prostate cancer (PCW WF-1802)
Authors: Sandberg Joanne C. , Dressler Emily V. , Krane Louis S. , Winkfield Karen M. , Lu Lingyi , Mayfield Andrew M. , Monitto Drew C. , Pennington J. Daniel , Tamkus Deimante M. , Lesser Glenn J. 
Published: March 2024

Background: African American (AA) men are, on average, diagnosed with prostate cancer at younger ages and more advanced stages than white men and therefore may be at greater risk of having cancer treatment negatively impact their work ability and job opportunities. This longitudinal, observational study aims to better identify whether race, household income (&lt; or ≥ 300% the U.S. poverty line), or work-related factors may place some men with prostate cancer at greater risk for experiencing negative employment impacts from cancer treatment and its side effects. Here we report on individual and employment-related factors by race and income prior to treatment initiation.

Methods: AA and white men who were expected to undergo primary curative treatment (prostatectomy or radiation therapy) in the near future for prostate cancer were recruited through the Wake Forest NCORP Research Base (UG1CA189824, NCT03963739) between 2019 and 2023. Participants were AA or white, recently employed, expecting to be working in 6 months, and willing to disclose income status. Participants answered questions prior to treatment initiation related to employment and working conditions, work ability, and demographic characteristics. Differences in outcomes by race and income were analyzed with Fisher's exact test or t-test.

Results: The baseline questionnaire was completed by 244 men; 48% AA/52% white and 64% higher/36% lower Income. Most planned treatments included radiation therapy (60%) and/or prostatectomy (41%), with no statistical differences by income or race. Higher income men were significantly more likely than lower income men to be married, have attained higher education, have a management or professional job, work full-time, be a permanent employee, salaried, eligible to retain their job under FMLA, work in an office/home, have a psychologically demanding job, and less likely to hold a physically demanding job. AA men were significantly less likely than white men to be married, have attained higher education, have a management or professional job, or work in an office/home. AA men were more continuously hopeful about the future (69%) compared to white men (52%; p=0.0079). There were no significant differences across categories in age, perceived current work ability in relation to physical (69% very good) or mental (71% very good) demands, or number of jobs held. Prior to treatment, participants reported almost optimal current work ability (mean 9.0, SD 1.2) with a range of 0 to 10 with 10 as best possible work ability.

Conclusion: In this study, income category is a greater predictor than race of job characteristics that may impact employment following definitive prostate cancer treatment.

Citation Format: Joanne C. Sandberg, Emily V. Dressler, Louis S. Krane, Karen M. Winkfield, Lingyi Lu, Andrew M. Mayfield, Drew C. Monitto, J. Daniel Pennington, Deimante M. Tamkus, Glenn J. Lesser. Employment characteristics and work ability differences by race and income before undergoing curative treatment for prostate cancer (PCW WF-1802) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 805.