Abstract 3277: The influence of cancer on working poor and working non-poor cancer survivors’ work productivity, employment and quality of life
Authors: Nichols Helen , Tracy Kathleen , Rosenblatt Paula , Vanderpool Robin , Swanberg Jennifer 
Published: July 2017

Employment issues are cited as one of the most common unmet psychosocial needs of cancer survivors; specifically, patients indicate they want more information on how to navigate working during their illness, the return to work process and how to manage the immediate and long-term effects on job productivity. Yet, most oncology care providers feel limited in their ability to address this topic with patients, citing minimal guidance, limited access to resources they feel clients need to achieve work-related goals, and concerns regarding their knowledge of how cancer may impact work. Likewise, supervisors of employees diagnosed with cancer are ill-prepared to manage the needs of cancer survivors beyond the standard referral to human resources. One limitation of the existing research on cancer and employment is that most studies have only examined these issues among higher income and more educated cancer survivors. The employment experiences of low-wage and less educated cancer survivors have been understudied. This is a significant gap in the research on cancer survivorship and work given the massive growth of low-wage jobs in the US since the 2008 Great Recession. The employment circumstances are significantly different for workers in low-wage jobs than they are for other workers. Thus, the effects of cancer on the work productivity of working poor and working non-poor may vary and consequently may have different effects on long-term employment and quality of life for cancer survivors.

This study addresses this gap in the cancer survivorship literature by examining whether there is variation in the effects of cancer on the work productivity of working poor and working non-poor cancer survivors and its radiating effects on employment and the quality of life of cancer survivors. Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the MEPS Cancer Survivorship Supplement, this secondary data analysis will study cancer survivors who were employed at the time of their cancer diagnosis, comparing the effects of cancer on work productivity among working poor and working non-poor respondents and determining whether differences in work productivity influence long-term employment and quality of life. Preliminary results indicate that a higher percentage of working poor cancer survivors were less productive at work due to cancer and reported lower current employment rates and quality of life indicators in comparison to working non-poor survivors. Study results could help oncology medical teams, supervisors, and human resources professionals assist working cancer survivors during this transition period in their lives.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Helen Nichols, Kathleen Tracy, Paula Rosenblatt, Robin Vanderpool, Jennifer Swanberg. The influence of cancer on working poor and working non-poor cancer survivors’ work productivity, employment and quality of life [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3277. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3277