Symposium

Cancer Rehabilitation

Clinical Practice (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, knowledge translation/EBP, implementation science, program development)

Return to Work for the Cancer Patient: A Comprehensive Review of the Evidence and Treatment Interventions (843053)

Presenter(s)

• BL

  Brittany E. Lorden, OTR/L, CLT

  Occupational Therapist
  Levine Cancer Institute
  Charlotte, North Carolina
• JL

  Joanna Edeker Lankford, PT, DPT, CMTPT, CLT

  Physical Therapist
  Levine Cancer Institute
  Charlotte, North Carolina
• DM

  Della Mann, MSP, CCC-SLP

  Speech Language Pathologist
  Levine Cancer Institute at Atrium Health
  Charlotte, North Carolina
• 

  Vishwa Raj, MD

  Chief of Cancer Rehabilitation
  Levine Cancer Institute
  Charlotte, North Carolina
• 

  Sarah Mullan, MS, OTR/L

  Manager
  Levine Cancer Institute
  Charlotte, North Carolina

In the United States, approximately 15.5 million cancer survivors were identified in 2016 with an estimated 20.3 million by 2026. 63% of these cancer survivors work during treatment or after treatment, variable on cancer type and stage, and almost half of the cancer survivors are 65 years old and younger. The ability to work or return to work is a frequent stated concern for cancer survivors and families. Work disability as a result of cancer results in economic losses and reduced worker productivity.
Return to work is a symbol of complete recovery for cancer survivors with approximately 60% of survivors returning to work within 1-2 years of diagnosis. Employment outcomes can be improved with innovations in treatment and with supportive services aimed at management of symptoms, rehabilitation, and accommodation of disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

• identify the factors that impact work performance during the cancer continuum
• List assessment tools to identify barriers for return to work in the cancer survivor
• describe therapeutic intervention approaches to improve work performance during the cancer continuum