One of the first U.S. studies to examine employment after cancer from the perspective of survivors explores the barriers that continue to affect long-term work outcomes. In an interview on Inside Special Needs on Radio LoRa in Switzerland (Begin English portion at minute 36:06), Ada X. Chen, PhD, a research scientist in the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation, discussed the findings and why returning to work is only part of the story.
Participants identified cognitive changes and depression as major barriers to staying employed or returning to work, while pain and fatigue are more commonly addressed in treatment settings. These findings point to a gap between what cancer survivors say affects their ability to work and what is often emphasized in care.
