A118

Return to work after therapy for thyroid cancer with curative intent

Sheila Fisher, Aine Donnelly, Aditya Vikram, Alexander Newsham, Colin Johnston, Adam Smith, Peter Selby, Galina Velikova

University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK

Background

Return to work is an important parameter in living with cancer. Thyroid patients are often young and return to normal working life is an important outcome but one which has seldom been studied.

Aim

To establish whether patients were able to:

(1) return to paid employment

(2) return to previous employment

Method

Patients treated for thyroid cancer and free of recurrence were invited to participate. Demographic, disease and treatment details and occupation were recorded.

Results

Of 80 patients, 62 (50female, 12 male) described themselves as working age. Of the female patients, 28 were working. 17 in their previous employment, 6 had changed roles and for 5 the outcome was not noted. 14 patients were housewives, 4 were students. 1 was incapacitated, I unemployed and 2 had missing data. Of the 12 males, 7 remained in their previous role, 1 had changed jobs and for 1 no outcome was noted. 1 was a family carer and 2 unemployed.

Conclusion

Patients were usually able to continue in their previous employment, although problems with fatigue and delayed return to work were reported.

Acknowledgements

BAOMS and the Charitable Trustees of LTHT for funding

The Thyroid MDT at LTHT