The work life and career development of young breast cancer survivors.

Abstract

Breast cancer survivors represent the largest proportion of cancer survivors, and the rate of young breast cancer survivors who are diagnosed before the age of 40 is increasing. Cancer survivorship scholarship has begun to address many aspects of survivors' quality of life, yet the role of work and career issues have been understudied, particularly for young survivors. To explore the work lives and career development of young breast cancer survivors, this study used consensual qualitative research methodology (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997) to analyze data from qualitative interviews with 13 young women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40. The 4 career-related domains that emerged from the data were (a) cancer-related work challenges, (b) coping with cancer-related work challenges, (c) reappraisal of career development after cancer, and (d) components of career and life satisfaction after cancer. Experiencing breast cancer at a young age was viewed by participants as contributing to an increased desire for work to provide a sense of meaning as well as financial security and insurance. Cancer was further viewed as contributing to lost control over career success and work choices, treatment side effects that interfere with work self-efficacy and capabilities, and interpersonal difficulties connecting within and outside of work. Women with more extensive cancer treatment and side effects reported greater work struggles. Despite this, participants' cancer narratives were characterized by a range of coping strategies, including reframing and seeking control, and by evidence of persistence, resilience, and hope. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Perceived employer‐related barriers and facilitators for work participation of cancer survivors: A systematic review of employers' and survivors' perspectives

“…In 2 instances, 2 studies described results using the same data, but both described supplementary barriers and facilitators and were therefore included . This resulted in a total of 47 studies, describing 45 different populations . Most studies were conducted in European ( n = 25) or North‐American ( n = 15) countries.…”

“…Survivors perceived continuous, regular, and weekly contact as a facilitator, while a lack of communication or no communication at all was perceived as barrier for cancer survivors' work participation . Positive, respectful, and personal interactions were perceived as facilitators, while negative, poor, ambiguous, frightening, patronising, discouraging, and pressuring communication from employers were perceived by survivors as barriers for their work participation . Discussing a survivor's work plan was perceived as facilitating their work participation: “ So I went and spoke with my manager (…) and we were able to sort out which projects, which teaching assignments, which tasks, which meetings I would have to miss due to my radiation treatments.…”

Everything Is More Critical: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Young Breast Cancer Survivors

“…Although this study offers a picture of the impact of breast cancer on young survivors, it is not without limitations. First, as noted in Raque-Bogdan et al (2015), the majority of participants were White, diagnosed with earlystage breast cancer, highly educated, employed in professional positions, and employed following diagnosis. Additional research is needed that uses more heterogeneous sampling, including those who experience significant physical complications from their cancer diagnosis and treatment, those with metastatic disease, and those who are not employed full-time.…”

“…CQR‐I is a methodology particularly suited for exploring young breast cancer survivorship, given that this is an area of study where quantitative findings are inconsistent and a richer understanding of young women's experiences is needed to better predict or assess their quality of life. Because this project was part of a larger study on the impact of cancer on work, results related specifically to the impact of breast cancer on young women's work lives and careers are reported elsewhere (Raque‐Bogdan et al, ). The present study posed these research questions: (a) How has cancer most affected the lives of young breast cancer survivors?…”

On a journey for survival : everyday life during radiation therapy from the perspectives of women with breast cancer and their families

“…Some evidence shows that younger women are more likely to struggle with emotional and social concerns, pertaining to body image, sexual functioning, fertility-related issues, caring for children, family roles and relations as well as career issues (Ahmad et al, 2015; Paterson et al, 2016; Peate et al, 2009;Raque-Bogdan et al, 2015;Ruddy et al, 2014;. Research has emphasised women's need for support when it comes to telling their children of their cancer diagnosis , as the overarching aim of a mother is to protect her children (Fisher & O'Connor, 2012).…”