Reintegrating cancer patients into the workplace

Abstract

Background: In Germany at present, 64% of women and 59% of men who receive a diagnosis of cancer are still alive five years later. 45% of men and 57% of women with cancer are still of working age. Cancer can markedly harm their ability to work.

Methods: We analyzed data from selected publications to calculate the percentage of cancer patients in Germany who are now returning to work.

Results: The efficacy of oncological rehabilitation has not been demonstrated by a randomized controlled trial, nor is it clear whether the existing studies have accounted for potentially confounding variables. A combined assessment of reports from various countries reveals that 63% of cancer patients who are of working age go back to work after being unable to work for an average of five months. The situation varies markedly across countries: In Germany, the percentage of women with breast cancer who return to work is only 59%, compared to 80% in the USA and 82% in the United Kingdom. Younger and better educated patients are more likely to return to work, as are those who have received less invasive treatment with fewer complications.

Conclusion: Most cancer patients of working age go back to work, but the percentages vary widely from one country to another, perhaps reflecting differences in social systems.

Figure 1

Age-adjusted rates for incidence of cancer and mortality according to sex in Germany, 1999 to 2008 (1)

Figure 2

Two-year statutory pension insurance data on patients in various diagnostic groups who underwent medical rehabilitation in 2007 (34)

Figure 3

Amortization model of medical rehabilitation (34) Just 4 months longer at work, or 4 months’ delay in early retirement on grounds of disability, are enough to balance out the costs of rehabilitation with the savings in disability pensions and the contributions received. Fictitious model calculation based on data on rehabilitated persons in 2010