Return to work and quality of life after therapy and rehabilitation in oral cancer.

Background: Return to work (REW) after cancer treatment is important for both patients and their families and for society in general. For patients it can be a sign of complete recovery and return to normal life.
Patients and Methods: A total of 755 out of 1,652 patients from 38 hospitals within the German-language area (DÖSAK REHA STUDY) were working at the time their cancer was diagnosed. QoL was determined after therapy and ranges from 0 to 100%.
Results: Overall, 51% were blue-collar workers (BCWs) and 49% white-collar workers (WCWs). The WCWs resumed work significantly sooner. There were no differences in the medical parameters. For 19 impairments, there were considerably more severe impairments reported in the self-administered questionnaires for BCWs. The groups did not differ with regard to depressive moods. Patient behaviour changed in several dimensions as a result of the treatment.
Conclusion: WCWs managed to return more frequently and faster to work than BCWs. It is important that the rehabilitative measures be coordinated.