Recovering or working: women's experiences of working while coping with cancer: a qualitative study

PurposeThe aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of working and returning to work while coping with cancer.MethodsParticipants were ten Israeli women with cancer who had an active career at the time of diagnosis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed.ResultsFour themes were generated. The first was "the meaning of work prior to the diagnosis": participants shared their perspective on the significance of work in their life prior to being diagnosed with cancer-work was construed as either time-consuming, a source for socializing, or a source for meaning and self-worth. The second was "the diagnosis of cancer and work": participants held the belief that either the cancer was caused by work or that the cancer halted their careers, in some cases both applied. The third was "the combination of work and cancer treatments": participants described severe physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges they faced, and how these affected their ability to balance work with receiving treatments. The fourth was "returning to work after cancer": participants found themselves having to balance preventative and rehabilitative care with career demands, employer expectations, and general work-life balance adjustments.ConclusionFindings suggest that healthcare professionals should assess individual perspectives and capabilities prior to returning to work and elucidate opportunities and challenges that cancer survivors may meet. Findings also reaffirm the need for formal workplace education and policies to combat discrimination and tailored return to work opportunities to survivors.Implications for cancer survivorsWomen's experiences of working while coping with cancer were thematically analyzed. These women face many challenges in the context of returning to work. Findings suggest that returning to work could be facilitated by healthcare professionals and employers through communication and tailored workplace policies.