Employment rate and predictors of return to work in people treated for oncologic diseases: a systematic review

Countries with an high development index are experiencing increase in both life expectation and in working age. This features will bring aged people with chronic disease, including cancer, in the workforce. Epidemiologic data show that approximately half of the new diagnosis and more than 1/3 of cancer survivors are people between 15 and 64 years [1]. Return to work (RTW) is a significant issue in this population because it might help to maintain or restore a satisfactory health status, to preserve social participation and social role, to restore self-perception of own identity and also to increase quality of life. Additionally, RTW has relevant direct negative effects on the social cost supported by Health Services, patients and families. In Italy, the socio-economic influence of loss of productivity due to cancer related consequences, was estimated in more than 8 billions of impact on the employing companies [2]. For this reason, we conducted this systematic review of the literature with the aim to investigate the employment status in European cancer survivors.