The effect of breast cancer on work participation in different sectors. A Danish registry based study

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 29; no. Supplement_4
• Main Authors: Jensen, L, Bøggild, H, Overgaard, C, Fonager, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.11.2019; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Cancer; Child care; Cleaning; Cleaning industry; Diagnosis; Exposure; Hospitality industry; Labor market; Lymph nodes; Participation; Prognosis; Public health; Teaching; Women; Work
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.057

Abstract Background A breast cancer diagnosis affects an individual’s affiliation to the labor market, but whether the effect of breast cancer variates in different sectors in a Danish setting has not been examined. The present study investigated the effect of stage IA breast cancer (tumor<20 mm and no lymph nodes involved in six sectors among Danish women being part of the work force. Stage IA breast cancer has a good prognosis, and it would be assumed that the majority have returned to work after 1 year. Methods This registry-based cohort study was based on data from linked Danish nationwide registries. We identified 5,543 women (aged 25-63 years) diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) stage IA (exposed) and 65.889 women without breast cancer (unexposed) and included women from the different sectors. We calculated a yearly Work Participation Score (WPS), defined as the proportion of weeks being self-supported during a year. We compared the means of WPS for exposed and unexposed women in six different sectors: 1) teaching, 2) childcare, 3) eldercare, 4) cleaning, 5) administration and 6) hospitality industry. Results BC had a negative effect on being self-supporting for women in all six sectors in all three years, although the effect declined. In the first year, the difference in WPS varied between 0.38 and 0.54. During the second year all BC patients had still significantly lower WPS with the largest difference in hospitality industry (0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.80) for exposed women and 0.86 (95% CI 0.83-0.88) for unexposed women). In the third year, the effect further declined although WPS was still significantly lower for most sectors with the biggest difference in the cleaning sector. Conclusions A stage IA BC diagnosis had a negative effect on being self-supportive after 2 and 3 years among women in all six sectors, although the difference was largest among cleaning workers. This may indicate, that individual follow-up in relation to work participation is necessary. Key messages Although breast cancer stage IA has a good prognosis, it still affects being self-supporting after three years. A diagnosis of breast cancer affects the affiliation to the labour market, but the effect differs according to different sectors.