[The status of medical-occupational rehabilitation exemplified by urologic tumor patients].

Many patients with urological carcinomas feel able, and indeed are able, to return to work after medical treatment. From a medical, psychological and socioeconomic point of view, routine pensioning must nowadays be rejected. Vocational reintegration is prepared in an individual and comprehensive manner in facilities for medical-vocational rehabilitation (phase II). The indication for vocational rehabilitation measures depends on the prognosis, on age and motivation, as well as on treatment aftereffects. The implications of operative, radiation and chemotherapy for the timing and course of the rehabilitation measures are set out, tumour- and treatment-related restrictions in future working life are discussed from an occupational medical view. Special emphasis is placed on carcinomas that should give rise to very early initiation of vocational rehabilitation services.