[Employment Status Breast Cancer Patients Received Dose-Dense EC (Epirubicin plus Cyclophosphamide) Therapy].

PURPOSE: To support the employment of breast cancer patients, it is important to reveal the factors that influence the side effects of chemotherapy on employment. However, there are still a few reports on the factors regarding the side effects of breast cancer chemotherapy and employment. In this study, we report on the employment status of patients with first-episode breast cancer who were treated with dd EC before surgery.

SUBJECTS: Patients who underwent cancer treatment at Hospital of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health between January 2023 and December 2024 and met the following inclusion criteria. 1 ) Patients with first-episode breast cancer, 2 ) Patients who received dd EC as preoperative cancer chemotherapy, 3 ) Patients who were earning wages from employment at the start of treatment, 4 ) Patients who continued to work at the start of treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated side effects and employment status within 30 days of the start of dd EC therapy based on electronic medical record data.

RESULTS

Ten patients continued to work at the start of chemotherapy. The 10 patients who continued to work completed the planned course. There were no postponements of treatment due to side effects during the planned treatment period. There were no changes in work duties for any of the patients; one of the 10 patients voluntarily made work adjustments. There were no adjustments to the work environment for any of the patients. Four out of 10 patients had their working hours and schedule changed after consultation between the patient and the company.

CONCLUSION

Our hospital has established the department of support for balancing work and medical treatment, which determines the appropriateness of work for patients who visit the hospital, as well as the School and Work Support Center to assist patients in balancing work and medical treatment. Since side effects were limited to Grade 2, it is thought that patients were able to continue working by taking the initiative in discussing with their workplaces and taking mitigating measures such as shortening their working hours.