Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2007 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition).
Vol 25, No 18S (June 20 Supplement), 2007: 9000
© 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology

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Abstract

Financial burden from wage losses after early breast cancer: Extent and determinants among Canadian women

Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire de Québec, Québec, PQ, Canada; Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, PQ, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seatlle, WA; Centre Hospitalier de Montréal, Montréal, PQ, Canada; Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, Québec, PQ, Canada

9000

Background: Wage losses after breast cancer may result in considerable financial burden. More women now participate in the workforce and breast cancer is managed using multiple treatment modalities that could lead to long work absences. We evaluated the burden from wage losses and determinants among Canadian women in the first 12 months after newly diagnosed non-metastatic breast cancer. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted among 800 women from 8 hospitals (participation 83%) of whom 459 were working at diagnosis. For these latter women, information on potential determinants of wage losses, work absences, compensation received and perception of financial situation was collected by 3 telephone interviews over the year. Information on medical characteristics came from medical files. The main outcome was the relative loss, namely wages lost divided by annual wages the woman would have earned had she not been absent from work. ANOVA was used to identify determinants. Results: The median relative loss in the first year after diagnosis for the 403 women reporting an absence or reduced work hours was 19% or $5,502 (Can dollars). Multivariate analysis showed that the mean relative loss was 13% for women who reported that breast cancer was not at all costly compared to 22%, 33% and 38% among women who said that breast cancer was a bit, quite or very costly, respectively (ptrend<0.0001). A higher relative loss was significantly associated with a lower level of education (difference between lowest and highest levels = 8 %, ptrend=0.0016), living =50 km from the surgery hospital (diff = 6%, p=0.0697), lower social support (diff = 8%, p=0.0119), invasive disease (diff = 6%, p=0.0861), chemotherapy (diff = 17%, p<0.0001), self-employment (diff= 17%, p<0.0001), shorter tenure in the job (diff between lowest and highest levels = 12%, ptrend<0.0001) and part-time work (diff = 10%, p=0.0003). Conclusions: Financial effects of wage losses could add to the overall burden of breast cancer. Clinicians and policy makers should be sensitized further to the fact that financial burden may be important for working women having more aggressive treatment and precarious work situations.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Abstract presentation from the 2007 ASCO Annual Meeting