Most female breast cancer patients are forced to interrupt their professional activities during treatment. Qualitative research was carried out to assess women’s experiences of being work disabled because of breast cancer.
Patients and methods
In-depth interviews were analyzed to understand patient’s experiences and to gain more insight in their perspectives on living with breast cancer.
Results
We identified a ‘three-experience model’: (1) disruption, with the feeling of irreparable loss, despair and no hope for the future; (2) episode, an unpleasant and inconvenient period, after which life continues as before; and/or (3) meaningful period, during which new life priorities’ are set.
Conclusion
The different experiences will require different types of support, especially concerning communication around disability and returning to work. Our findings highlight the need of an individual approach of the management of work disability for breast cancer patients.
Highlights
► We identify a three- experiences model of work disability during breast cancer. ► Feelings of irreparable loss apply to the disruption experience. ► Obligation to standing firm against the storm goes with the inconvenient episode. ► The meaningful period experience shows how patients re-evaluate their lives. ► The different experiences matter chiefly to health care providers and practitioners.