Short-term effects of breast cancer on labor market attachment: results from a longitudinal study

Abstract

In this longitudinal study, we examine the consequences of breast cancer for women's labor market attachment for the 6-month period following diagnosis. Women with breast cancer, with the exception of those having in situ cancer, were less likely to work 6 months following diagnosis relative to a control sample of women drawn from the Current Population Survey. Breast cancer's non-employment effect appears to be twice as large for African-American women. Women with breast cancer who remained working worked fewer hours than women in the control group.