Strategies to support cancer survivors at work: content analysis of cancer survivor, healthcare provider, and employer perspectives

Purpose To (1) describe the challenges identified by cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and employers related to work maintenance and optimization during and after cancer treatment and (2) identify strategies that can address those challenges. Methods We conducted content analysis of semi-structured interview data collected from cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and employers regarding workplace challenges that cancer survivors face and strategies to address them. Challenges and strategies were summarized according to whether they related to the cancer survivor, the work demands, or the work environment. Results Forty-five total participants identified challenges and strategies primarily related to the cancer survivor’s signs and symptoms of treatment. Healthcare providers ( n = 17) focused primarily on challenges and strategies related to the cancer survivor, while employers ( n = 5) focused on the work environment—especially policies and procedures that facilitate time off work and the importance of bidirectional communication between cancer survivors and employers. Cancer survivors ( n = 23) identified challenges and suggestions in all three categories, though they uniquely focused on challenges relating to work demands and adjustments to those demands that would facilitate employment maintenance. Conclusions Efforts to address the many challenges that cancer survivors experience at work should include the views of cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and employers reflecting their respective domains of expertise in work demands, cancer survivors’ medical care, and the work environment. Implications for Cancer Survivors Survivors and healthcare providers are able to address many side effects that can create work challenges, but improved collaboration between survivors and employers may identify ways to modify work demands and environments to maximize employment maintenance.