A recent study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin and led by breast cancer oncologist Dr. Amye Tevaarwerk, found that symptoms related to cancer often determined whether people were able to remain at work after their diagnosis. The findings found that more than one-third of people with metastatic cancer continued to work.

Researchers were surprised to find that type of cancer, number of metastatic sites, treatment and time since diagnosis had no effect on whether patients continued to work. Tevaarwerk points out that with these types of patients, so much attention is focused on the events surrounding the initial diagnosis and treatment, that the unique survivorship issues are often overlooked.

As Tevaarwerk notes, since many diagnosed with metastatic cancer want to work, as the study shows, understanding how their illness affects their employment may help patients to make adjustments.

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