The extent to which self-assessed work ability collected during treatment can predict return-to-work in cancer patients is unknown. In this prospective study, we consecutively included employed cancer patients who underwent treatment with curative intent at 6 months following the first day of sick leave. Work ability data (scores 0 -10), clinical and sociodemographic data were collected at 6 months, while return-to-work was measured at 6, 12 and 18 months. Most of the 195 patients had been diagnosed with breast cancer (26%), cancer of the female genitals (22%) or genitourological cancer (22%). Mean current work ability scores improved significantly over time from 4.6 at 6 months to 6.3 and 6.7 at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Patients with haematological cancers and those who received chemotherapy showed the lowest work ability scores, while patients with cancer of urogenital tract or with gastrointestinal cancer had the highest scores. Work ability at 6 months strongly predicted return-to-work at 18 months, after correction for the influence of age and treatment (hazard ratio ¼ 1.37, CI 1.27 -1.48). We conclude that self-assessed work ability is an important factor in the return-to-work process of cancer patients independent of age and clinical factors.

Poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) (PEN) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composite fibers reinforced with a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (TLCP) were prepared by the melt blending and spinning process to achieve high performance fibers with improved processability. Polymer composite fibers consisting of cheap polyester and small quantity of expensive TLCP are of interest from an economic point of view and from an industrial perspective. The increase in the birefringence and density of the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers with the spinning speed was attributable to the enhancement of the molecular orientation and effective packing between chains in the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers. Annealing process resulted in the formation of more ordered and perfect crystalline structure and higher crystallinity, improving the mechanical properties of the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers. The increase in the crystallite size and the degree of chain extension with increasing spinning speed resulted in the gradual increment of the long period for the TLCP/PEN/PET composite fibers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006.