Examining Return to Work in Cancer Survivors

Skip Breadcrumb HomeResearchOur StudiesExamining Return to Work in Cancer Survivors
Core Research Area
Self Management Research
Principal Investigator
Christine Maheu
Co-Investigators
Andrea Vodermaier, Wolfgang Linden, and Mina Singh
A growing number of individuals are diagnosed with cancer; many of them at an age when they are still in the work force.  Many patients undergo aggressive cytostatic treatment known for its long-term side effects, (e.g., fatigue, cognitive dysfunction), at a time in life when they are facing multiple role demands and are expected to return to work.  The present project aims to examine the number of younger survivors that return to work, the time interval in which they do so, and any changes that may occur at the workplace.  Furthermore, we want to investigate whether or not return to work is associated with emotional distress, health, and cancer-related concerns such as fatigue and self-reported cognitive function.  Finally, we are interested in survivors’ personal experiences with returning to work in terms of their perceived workplace accommodation and discrimination, their appreciation of work, any symptoms/strains they may experience at work, as well as associated demographic, clinical and treatment, and psychological factors. In order to study the subjective experiences of survivors with return to work, a questionnaire was developed which underwent a first validation and will be used in this study in a revised version based on the phase I study.

Study Contact
Christine Maheu 416-581-8631 or cmaheu@uhnresearch.ca or christine.maheu@mcgill.ca