A new study by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center shows that breast cancer survivors are less likely to be employed after 4 years of their treatment.
Researchers found that the women who underwent chemotherapy had more difficulties getting job.
For the study, the research team examined nearly 750 women from Detroit and Los Angeles who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and were employed at the time. They were tracked for 9 months after their diagnosis and were given a follow-up survey four years later.
The results showed that 30 percent of the working women said they were no longer employed and those who received chemotherapy had bleak chances of working four years later.
Most of the women said they chose not to work. More than 50 percent of the participants said it was important for them to work and 39 percent said they were looking for a job.
The researchers noted that unemployed breast cancer women were significantly more likely to face financial difficulties.
"Many doctors believe that even though patients may miss work during treatment, they will 'bounce back' in the longer term. The results of this study suggest otherwise. Loss of employment is a possible long-term negative consequence of chemotherapy that may not have been fully appreciated to date," said lead study author Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School, in a press release.
Researchers say that the cost of treatment should be brought down to help women with cancer face the financial burden and develop strategies and programs to face life after chemotherapy.
American Cancer Society statistics show that 235,030 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone and around 40,000 will die from the disease.
The study has been published in the journal 'Cancer.'
