1. Long-Term Economic and Employment Outcomes Among Partners of Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer.
- Author
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Veenstra CM, Wallner LP, Jagsi R, Abrahamse P, Griggs JJ, Bradley CJ, and Hawley ST
- Subjects
- Black or African American statistics & numerical data, Aged, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hispanic or Latino statistics & numerical data, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Staging, Retirement, SEER Program, United States, White People statistics & numerical data, Breast Neoplasms pathology, Carcinoma pathology, Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating pathology, Employment statistics & numerical data, Ethnicity statistics & numerical data, Income, Insurance, Health, Registries, Spouses statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Purpose: Work loss is one of many personal costs for patients with cancer and their families. Many women with breast cancer face long-term job loss that stems from their diagnoses. However, little is known about the economic and employment outcomes of partners of women with breast cancer., Methods: Women with nonmetastatic breast cancer identified by the Detroit and Los Angeles SEER registries between June 2005 and February 2007 were surveyed at both 9 months and 4 years after diagnosis. Partners were surveyed 4 years after patients' diagnoses. Nonretired partners were asked about employment and financial consequences that stemmed from the patients' breast cancer diagnoses and treatments., Results: A total of 517 (67%) of 774 eligible partners completed the survey; 32% reported worsened financial status attributed to patients' breast cancers. Two hundred forty nonretired partners worked during the year after the patients' diagnoses; 90% were still working 4 years postdiagnosis. A total of 32% of partners decreased their work hours as a result of patients' breast cancer diagnoses and treatments; 64% of partners reported that, as a result of patients' breast cancer diagnoses and treatments, it was very/extremely important to keep working to keep health insurance. Overall, 51% of partners reported that it was very/extremely important to avoid changing jobs, because they were worried about loss of health insurance., Conclusion: Nearly one third of partners reported that their financial status was worse because of the patient's breast cancer, although most remained working 4 years after a diagnosis. Partners may continue to work longer than desired to compensate for a loss of financial resources in the family.
- Published
- 2017
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