Psychological changes among breast cancer patients completed treatment and factors influencing their return to work during rehabilitation: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background

As the most common cancer among women, returning to work has become a problem for breast cancer patients in the rehabilitation period.

Objective

To explore in-depth the psychological changes that breast cancer patients undergo and the factors that hinder or facilitate their return to work after cancer treatment.

Methods

The study used a phenomenological approach and involved a sample of ten breast cancer patients who had returned to work or planned to return to work while on endocrine therapy or after completing all curative treatments.

Results

Two themes emerged from the interviews: (1) the mental journey of breast cancer patients when they returned to work, which involved three stages: avoiding returning to work, embracing reality and setting sail again, and grasping today and harvesting the future; (2) factors that affected breast cancer patients’ return to work, including economic pressure, work stress, the patient's mindset towards their illness, pursuit of social values, and social support.

Conclusions

Based on these influencing factors, interventions should be developed to enable patients to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude during their rehabilitation process.