The Incidence and Causes of Job-Related Problems Among Employed People with Cancer in Pennsylvania

Abstract

This study estimates the number of newly diagnosed people with cancer in Pennsylvania who experience employment-related problems following diagnosis. It also examines the extent to which factors other than cancer may play a role in these problems. By extrapolating the problems reported by the employed participants in their study, the authors estimate that more than 6,200 (about 11 percent of newly diagnosed individuals in Pennsylvania, or 31 percent of those employed) experience at least one employment-related problem, the most common being difficulty in doing their jobs. Problems with supervisors and fellow employees are among those least frequently cited and are among those most likely to involve causes other than cancer. These findings indicate that a comprehensive understanding of the employment history of the person with cancer is required to provide support with employment-related problems.