Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42732013›Full record

SynthesisJournal of occupational rehabilitation2026

The Impact of Oncological Treatments on Return to Work, Work Ability, and Sickness Absence in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review.

Lorenzo Rodríguez-Riesco, Paloma Gil-Olarte, Paula Ruiz-González, Tânia Brandão, Lucía Morales-Sánchez, Rocío Guil

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lorenzo Rodríguez-RiescoDepartment of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7560-4031
Paloma Gil-OlarteDepartment of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain. paloma.gilolarte@uca.es.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7903-7487
Paula Ruiz-GonzálezDepartment of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain. paula.ruiz@uca.es.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3099-4304
Tânia BrandãoWilliam James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim Do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7865-2445
Lucía Morales-SánchezDepartment of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9360-0651
Rocío GuilDepartment of Psychology, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4425-2800

Funding

Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2021-125056OB-I00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeReturning to work and maintaining an adequate ability to work serve as key indicators of quality of life, psychological well-being and psychosocial adjustment. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the impact of breast cancer treatments on return to work (RTW), work ability (WA), and sick leave (SL) among breast cancer survivors.

methodsA systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The sample consisted of 26 studies published between 2016 and 2025, including prospective multicenter cohorts and national registries from fifteen countries across four continents, with more than 25,000 participants. A methodological quality assessment and a narrative synthesis were performed to synthesize the results.

resultsChemotherapy is the most consistent predictor of prolonged SL, delayed RTW, and significantly reduced WA. Radical surgery and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) are associated with a significantly delayed RTW due to physical sequelae. While outcomes showed strong relationship with clinical factors, certain psychosocial variables such as depression, anxiety, and low self-efficacy seemed to act as important secondary factors that can further complicate the process.

conclusionThe findings suggest that more invasive or aggressive treatments (chemotherapy, ALND, and radical surgery) were associated with poorer outcomes on RTW, WA, and SL. Furthermore, the clinical recovery associated with treatment completion did not necessarily equate to a functional recovery in WA that facilitated a successful RTW. Thus, it is necessary to explore in depth the impact of cancer treatments on WA, alongside psychosocial variables, to design multidisciplinary interventions that enable sustainable occupational reintegration. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2026 (CRD420261322638).

Indexed as

Breast cancer survivorsOncological treatmentsReturn to workSick leaveWork ability

Identifiers

PMID42732013

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.