To investigate factors associated with job loss and early retirement in men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) 18-42 months previously.
Men ≤ 60 years at diagnosis who completed the Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) survey were identified. Men who moved from employment at diagnosis to unemployment (EtoU) or retirement (EtoR) at survey (18-42 months post-diagnosis) were compared to men remaining in employment (EtoE). Sociodemographic, clinical and patient-reported factors were analysed in univariable and multivariable analysis.
There were 3218 men (81.4%) in the EtoE, 245 (6.2%) in EtoU and 450 (11.4%) in the EtoR groups. Men with stage IV disease (OR = 4.7 95% CI 3.1-7.0, relative to stage I/II) and reporting moderate/big bowel (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.6-3.9) or urinary problems (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-3.0) had greater odds of becoming unemployed. Other clinical (≥ 1 comorbidities, symptomatic at diagnosis) and sociodemographic (higher deprivation, divorced/separated), living in Scotland or Northern Ireland (NI)) factors were predictors of becoming unemployed. Men who were older, from NI, with stage IV disease and with caring responsibilities had greater odds of retiring early. Self-employed and non-white men had lesser odds of retiring early.
PCa survivors who retire early following diagnosis do not report worse urinary or bowel problems compared to men remaining in employment. However, we identified clinical and sociodemographic factors which increased unemployment risk in PCa survivors.
Targeted support and engagement with PCa survivors at risk of unemployment, including their families and employers, is needed.
Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice. 2018 Jul 30 [Epub ahead of print]
Damien Bennett, Therese Kearney, David W Donnelly, Amy Downing, Penny Wright, Sarah Wilding, Richard Wagland, Eila Watson, Adam Glaser, Anna Gavin
Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Rd., Belfast, BT12 6DP, Northern Ireland. ., Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Rd., Belfast, BT12 6DP, Northern Ireland., Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK., Faculty Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.