Mary E Sesto1,2,3, Cibele B Carroll4, Xiao Zhang5, Karen B Chen6, Abigail Terhaar7, Athena S Wilson5, Amye J Tevaarwerk5,4,8. 1. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. msesto@wisc.edu. 2. University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA. msesto@wisc.edu. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin 5110 Medical Sciences Center, Madison, WI, 53705, USA. msesto@wisc.edu. 4. University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA. 5. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. 6. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. 7. University of Wisconsin Trace Research and Development Center, Madison, WI, USA. 8. Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin 5110 Medical Sciences Center, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: By 2020, the US population living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has exceeded 165,000. A knowledge gap exists regarding the factors affecting work ability for these individuals. We sought to characterize the work status, importance of work, and work-related information needs for women living with MBC. METHODS: We conducted an online survey using an MBC listserv and clinic flyers in 2014-2015. Respondents working at the time of MBC diagnosis were divided into "stably-working" and "no-longer-working" based on employment status at the time of survey. Comparisons were made with chi-square or two-tailed t test. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 133) were predominantly non-Hispanic White (93.2%); 72 were stably-working, while 61 reported no-longer-working. Those no-longer-working were older (54.0 vs 49.5 years old, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.55), further from initial diagnosis of MBC (4.6 vs 3.3 years, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.36), and reported high rates of life interference due to MBC (n = 51, 83.6% vs n = 39, 54.2%, p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.32). Stably-working respondents considered work to be important (n = 58, 80.5% vs n = 18, 29.5%, p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.57); the top reasons cited were financial and/or insurance (80.4%), importance of staying busy (67.9%), and desire to support themselves and family (64.3%). The stably-working respondents more often valued information on how to talk with employers or co-workers about diagnosis (n = 38, 57.6% vs n = 16, 27.1%; p < 0.01), legal rights in workplace (n = 43, 65.2% vs n = 22, 36.7%; p < 0.01), when to think about stopping work (n = 45, 68.2% vs n = 18, 30%; p < 0.01), and applying for disability (n = 42, 63.6% vs n = 26, 42.6%; p < 0.05), when compared to no-longer-working. CONCLUSION: The decision to stop working may represent a subsequent event driven by cancer progression. This research highlights the ongoing need of information targeting MBC to facilitate the management of employment and financial issues early in the MBC trajectory.
PURPOSE: By 2020, the US population living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has exceeded 165,000. A knowledge gap exists regarding the factors affecting work ability for these individuals. We sought to characterize the work status, importance of work, and work-related information needs for women living with MBC. METHODS: We conducted an online survey using an MBC listserv and clinic flyers in 2014-2015. Respondents working at the time of MBC diagnosis were divided into "stably-working" and "no-longer-working" based on employment status at the time of survey. Comparisons were made with chi-square or two-tailed t test. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 133) were predominantly non-Hispanic White (93.2%); 72 were stably-working, while 61 reported no-longer-working. Those no-longer-working were older (54.0 vs 49.5 years old, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.55), further from initial diagnosis of MBC (4.6 vs 3.3 years, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.36), and reported high rates of life interference due to MBC (n = 51, 83.6% vs n = 39, 54.2%, p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.32). Stably-working respondents considered work to be important (n = 58, 80.5% vs n = 18, 29.5%, p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.57); the top reasons cited were financial and/or insurance (80.4%), importance of staying busy (67.9%), and desire to support themselves and family (64.3%). The stably-working respondents more often valued information on how to talk with employers or co-workers about diagnosis (n = 38, 57.6% vs n = 16, 27.1%; p < 0.01), legal rights in workplace (n = 43, 65.2% vs n = 22, 36.7%; p < 0.01), when to think about stopping work (n = 45, 68.2% vs n = 18, 30%; p < 0.01), and applying for disability (n = 42, 63.6% vs n = 26, 42.6%; p < 0.05), when compared to no-longer-working. CONCLUSION: The decision to stop working may represent a subsequent event driven by cancer progression. This research highlights the ongoing need of information targeting MBC to facilitate the management of employment and financial issues early in the MBC trajectory.
Authors: Amye J Tevaarwerk; Ju-Whei Lee; Abigail Terhaar; Mary E Sesto; Mary Lou Smith; Charles S Cleeland; Michael J Fisch Journal: Cancer Date: 2015-12-21 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Gabrielle B Rocque; Aysha Rasool; Beverly R Williams; Audrey S Wallace; Soumya J Niranjan; Karina I Halilova; Yasemin E Turkman; Stacey A Ingram; Courtney P Williams; Andres Forero-Torres; Tom Smith; Smita Bhatia; Sara J Knight Journal: Oncologist Date: 2019-03-14
Authors: A J Tevaarwerk; J W Lee; M E Sesto; K A Buhr; C S Cleeland; J Manola; L I Wagner; V T S Chang; M J Fisch Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2013-02-02 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: Amye J Tevaarwerk; Kris Kwekkeboom; Kevin A Buhr; Alexandra Dennee; William Conkright; Adedayo A Onitilo; Emily Robinson; Harish Ahuja; Roger W Kwong; Ranveer Nanad; Douglas A Wiegmann; Karen Chen; Noelle K LoConte; Kari B Wisinski; Mary E Sesto Journal: Cancer Date: 2020-11-24 Impact factor: 6.860